Patrick A. McGuire, a professor emeritus of economics who served Hobart and William Smith for more than five decades and held interim roles as president and provost, has died, the college announced Thursday.
McGuire joined the faculty in 1968 as a scholar and teacher of economics and public policy. HWS said he mentored generations of students, supervised dozens of honors projects and independent studies, chaired the Economics Department and served on numerous faculty committees.
President Mark Gearan remembered McGuire as a defining figure in the life of the institution who cared deeply about students, colleagues, Geneva and international education. The college said details about services will be announced when available.
As interim provost and dean of faculty, McGuire oversaw academic programming, faculty hiring and evaluation, the Registrar's Office, library staff and other academic services. He also co-chaired HWS' Culture of Respect initiative and later led the colleges as interim president.
McGuire co-founded the college's public policy program in Washington, D.C., and served as its faculty director 10 times. He helped expand off-campus and global study opportunities and spent more than two decades co-teaching the Two Cities interdisciplinary course with sociology professor emeritus Jim Spates.
His international work included leading HWS programs in Ireland, England and Central Europe, participating in Semester at Sea and directing five alumni and parent trips to Ireland with his wife, Sandy. He also participated in the Wall Street Experience Program, connecting students with alumni and employers in Manhattan's financial sector.
McGuire worked with students on an economic-impact study examining HWS' contributions to Geneva. He also helped launch the HWS Second Chances Program, which provides college-level courses to incarcerated students at Five Points Correctional Facility.
In the Geneva community, McGuire served on the boards of the Boys & Girls Club, Finger Lakes Credit Union and Success for Geneva's Children. He also served on a committee supporting development of the city's comprehensive master plan.
The Hobart Class of 2010 made him an honorary member, and he received the Distinguished Faculty Award in 2018. The following year, McGuire and his wife received the Charles H. Salisbury Award for their service to HWS and Geneva.
HWS also established the Patrick and Sandra McGuire Study Abroad Fund in 2019 to help students who otherwise might not be able to afford an international experience. McGuire received an honorary degree from the college in 2012.
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