Former Delaware State University President William De Lauder has died at 81. DeLauder presided over the transformation of the university during a decade and a half at the helm.
During his tenure at DSU, the name was changed from Delaware State College and academic programs grew in size and quality. His time at DSU was also characterized by an aggressive construction and fund-raising program at the Historically Black University
DeLauder earned a bachelor’s degree from Morgan State University in Maryland and a doctorate from Wayne State University in Detroit.
He came to Delaware State in 1987 after serving as a dean at North Carolina A&T University.
DeLauder succeeded Luna I. Mishoe (1960-1987) as president of then-Delaware State College.
University President Wilma Mishoe said Dr. DeLauder continued the work for her father and his predecessor Dr. Luna Mishoe by continuing the transformation of the College and later the university.
“He was a gentle and thoughtful man who was brilliant in his approached to moving the University forward,” Dr. Mishoe said. “He was also a scientist, and as such, he paid attention to the small details, and that served his administration and the university well. He was also an excellent photographer, a pursuit he truly enjoyed in his spare time.”
During his presidency, student enrollment grew from 2,389 students to a then-record 3,367.
Eleven new master’s degree programs – Biology, Biology Education, Chemistry, Applied Chemistry, Physics, Physics Teaching, Mathematics, Mathematics Education, Historic Preservation, and Plant Science – were added during the DeLauder era
After retiring from Delaware State University he served as an educational consultant.
Gov. John Carney praised DeLauder’s efforts during his time at the university in Dover.
At the time of his passing, he and wife Vermell resided in Jamestown, N.C. He was born on Sept. 29, 1937 in Frederick, Md. and was 81 at the time of his death.
I was sad to learn today of the passing of Dr. Bill DeLauder – a real leader in our state who served as president of @DelStateUniv for 16 years.
— Governor John Carney (@JohnCarneyDE) May 21, 2019
