College Historian
Dr. John Piper served Lycoming College for 38 years, first as a professor in the history department, which he chaired from 1974-93, and as dean of the College from 1993 until his retirement in 2007.
During his tenure at Lycoming, Piper served in numerous faculty leadership roles, including in reviews which culminated in the creation of the criminal justice program and the American studies program. He served as a member of the College's Scholars Council and was also a coach for the men's and women's cross country teams. His concern for the individual and for academic rigor exemplifies the spirit of the College. As dean of the College, he led the academic program during a period of significant growth in the College's reputation. Piper is the author of several books on church history; "Williamsport: Frontier Village to Regional Center," co-authored with Lycoming professors Drs. Richard Morris and Robert Larson; and numerous scholarly articles.
He continues to serve the College through his work on a complete Lycoming College history in preparation for the institution's bicentennial in 2012. Piper earned a bachelor's degree in history from Lafayette College, a bachelor of divinity degree from Yale University, and a Ph.D. from Duke University.