Video by Carey Pena of Inspired Media 360, for the Historical League; videographer Leonardo Buono.
The son of an enlisted Navy man, Michael M. Crow lost his mother at the age of nine, and subsequently attended 18 schools before attending college at Iowa State University. Inspired by his own educational journey and an experience he had completing his Eagle Scout service project, Dr. Crow became interested in the design of learning and research enterprises, particularly the restructuring of organizations to provide quality education at scale. A professor, science and technology policy scholar, and knowledge enterprise architect, Dr. Crow left Columbia University to become the sixteenth president of Arizona State University in 2002. Drawn to Arizona by its pioneering spirit and vast potential, he has spent the last two decades spearheading ASU's rapid and significant transformation into one of the world's best public research universities. As a prototype for the New American University, ASU simultaneously demonstrates comprehensive excellence, inclusion that reflects the ethnic and socioeconomic diversity of the communities it serves, and meaningful social impact. Dr. Crow's vision for ASU as a 21st Century public enterprise is positioning Arizona as a global leader in education, research and development, and economic competitiveness.