Exhibit - President John DiBiaggio (1985-1992)
John A. DiBiaggio was the 17th president of Michigan State University and served from 1985 to 1992. Prior to becoming president of MSU, he served as the president of the University of Connecticut for six years. Dr. DiBiaggio grew up in Detroit, the son of Italian immigrants. He was the first person on either side of his family to attend college. He graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1954, and then attended the University of Detroit School of Dentistry, graduating in 1958. He also holds a master's degree from the Rackham School of Graduate Studies at the University of Michigan, and honorary degrees from several other institutions. DiBiaggio practiced dentistry in New Baltimore, Michigan, and served in faculty and administrative posts at the University of Detroit, the University of Kentucky and the Virginia Commonwealth University. He was then named President at Connecticut in 1979.
DiBiaggio's activities have encompassed education, government, and community service. He served on the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development and Economic Cooperation, the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee of the American Film Institute, and the Board of Nominators for the American Institute of Public Service.
As president of MSU, Dr. DiBiaggio headed the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges during its Centennial Year. He was also a frequent spokesperson for public higher education and for land-grant universities.
DiBiaggio is married to Nancy Cronemiller DiBiaggio. He has three children, David, Dana and Deirdre.
Oral history interviews of President DiBiaggio can be found at Sesquicentennial Oral History Project.
Finding aid to the John A. DiBiaggio papers (UA 2.1.17).
Exhibit created by Ed Busch and Matthew Wilcox.
Updated by Megan Badgley Malone.
Related Objects
 A portrait of MSU President John DiBiaggio, 1987 August 28, 1987 Image: jpg MSU Archives and Historical Collections |  DiBiaggio Leaves U of Conn for MSU, 1984 November 16, 1984 Video: mp4 MSU Archives and Historical Collections |  DiBiaggio Press Conference (part 1 of 2), 1985 July 9, 1985 Video: mp4 MSU Archives and Historical Collections |
 DiBiaggio Press Conference (part 2 of 2), 1985 July 9, 1985 Video: mp4 MSU Archives and Historical Collections |  |  |
 East Lansing Rotary Club 25th Anniversary (Part 1), 1986 December 8, 1986 Video: mp4 MSU Archives and Historical Collections |  East Lansing Rotary Club 25th Anniversary (Part 2), 1986 December 8, 1986 Video: mp4 MSU Archives and Historical Collections |  First Newscasts Featuring DiBiaggio, 1985 July 9, 1985 Video: mp4 MSU Archives and Historical Collections |
 George Perles and President DiBiaggio at Football Building July 31, 1985 Video: mp4 MSU Archives and Historical Collections |  Inauguration of the President: John DiBiaggio (Part 1) 1985 Video: mp4 MSU Archives and Historical Collections |  Inauguration of the President: John DiBiaggio (Part 2) 1985 Video: mp4 MSU Archives and Historical Collections |
 Interview with Dr. John DiBiaggio, 1986 July 16, 1986 Video: mp4 MSU Archives and Historical Collections |  John DiBiaggio on J.P. McCarthy "Focus" August 17, 1987 Audio: mp3 MSU Archives and Historical Collections |  |
 Radio Interview with Cari Bernstein, part 1/2 April 19, 1991 Audio: mp3 MSU Archives and Historical Collections |  Radio Interview with Cari Bernstein, part 2/2 April 19, 1991 Audio: mp3 MSU Archives and Historical Collections |  Rededication of the Sparty Statue, 1989 October 2, 1989 Image: jpg MSU Archives and Historical Collections |
 State of the University Address, 1986 February 12, 1986 Video: mp4 MSU Archives and Historical Collections |  State of the University Address, 1989 February 15, 1989 Video: mp4 MSU Archives and Historical Collections |  State of the University Address, 1990 February 12, 1990 Video: mp4 MSU Archives and Historical Collections |
 State of the University Address, 1991 February 12, 1991 Video: mp4 MSU Archives and Historical Collections |  Video President: Dr. John DiBiaggio February 16, 1990 Video: mp4 MSU Archives and Historical Collections |  |
