Lotus Coffman

Lotus Coffman
Portrait of Lotus Coffman
President of the University of Minnesota
In office 1920–1938
Personal details
Born	(1875-01-07)January 7, 1875 Salem, Indiana
Died	September 23, 1938(1938-09-23) (aged 63) Brooklyn, Iowa
Spouse(s)	Mary Emma Farrell
Alma mater	University of Michigan

Lotus Delta Coffman was the fifth president of the University of Minnesota, serving from 1920 until his death in office on September 22, 1938.Coffman Memorial Union, the main student center, is named in his memory.

Lotus Delta Coffman, son of Mansford Coffman and Laura Davis, was born 7 January 1875 in Salem, Indiana. He married in Salem on 28 December 1899 to Mary Emma Farrell born 12 September 1877 Paoli, Indiana, daughter of William H.H.P. Farrell & his first wife Mary A. Wible. Coffman was a graduate of Salem High School in 1892 and a graduate of Indiana Normal School at Terre Haute, in 1896, where he played quarterback on the football team. He earned an AB degree from Indiana University, 1906; an AM degree there, 1910; a Ph.D. at Columbia, NY, 1911. He later received a LLD from Indiana University and from Carleton College in 1922; a LLD from Columbia University, 1929 & a LLD from the University of Michigan, 1931; a LHD from University of Denver, 1930 and a DS degree in education from George Washington University, 1930.

Coffman was principal of Salem, Indiana schools from 1900 to 1903; Superintendent of Salem schools 1903–1906; superintendent of Connersville School 1906–1908; director of training at Charleston, Illinois Normal School 1908–1912; dean of education at the University of Illinois 1912–1915; Dean of the College of Education at the University of Minnesota 1915–1920; and President of the University of Minnesota 1920–1938.

He was a visiting professor for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace to New Zealand and Australia 1931; visiting lecturer at the University of the Philippines 1932; member of the National Board of Education to do research in Russia and visit Poland & Germany; was a consultant to the US Department of Interior on a Land Grant College Survey 1928–1930; and advisor to the Surgeon General on education of disabled soldiers during WWI.