Lester H. Lange

Specific Research Interests:

In 1970, not many years after the acquisition of an old cannery building led to the now world-famous MLML, Dr. Lange became Dean of Science at SJSU. He paid personal attention to nurturing the fledgling labs, expanding the consortium from its original three campuses (now seven), dramatically improving its quarters (destroyed by the 1989 earthquake), and increasing the Office of the Chancellor's attention to MLML. This attention yielded improved budgetary treatment of MLML by the entire CSU and led to a critical appreciation of the role of research in the CSU, which began as "mere" teachers colleges where research was not funded. Dr. Lange regards bringing Dr. John Martin to the Directorship of MLML in 1977 as a professional and personal highlight of Dr. Lange's long academic career. MLML is now the crowning jewel of research of the entire CSU. Since retiring in 1988, Dr. Lange has served the directors, professors, and students. He is also one of the founders of the Friends of MLML.