 Thomas N. Bonner was the seventh president of Wayne State University. A distinguished historian, Bonner was president of the University of New Hampshire and Union College before arriving at Wayne State University in 1978.
Bonner came to the university when it was facing the most serious fiscal problems in its history. The national economy was in recession, state budgets slashed funding for universities and colleges in Michigan and university operating costs soared. At the peak of the crisis, Wayne State University experienced hiring freezes, lay-offs, wage concessions, and tuition increases.
There was some progress despite the difficulties. Bonner recognized the benefits of an international reputation and during his presidency, the university forged exchange agreements with universities in Israel, Germany, Poland and Costa Rica. Wayne State University was the second university in America to establish scholarly exchanges with the Chinese Academy of Science.
Bonner resigned in August 1982 to teach in the university's Department of History. He retired from Wayne State University in 1997.
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