Purdue alumnus and former dean of the Schools of Engineering, John C. Hancock is now a consultant who specializes in advising higher education about the importance of the industry-university partnership.

Hancock completed his BS at Purdue in 1951, his MS in 1955, and his PhD in 1957. He remained at the university to teach and rose to the rank of full professor in the School of Electrical Engineering. An author of several books and numerous papers, he became head of the school in 1965 and directed its growth including the installation of an undergraduate solid-state integrated circuit lab until 1972 when he was named dean of the Schools of Engineering. As dean, Hancock encouraged enrollment of women and minorities, nurtured the Institute for Interdisciplinary Engineering Studies, laid plans for the building of the A. A. Potter Engineering Center, increased sponsored research, expanded the Engineering Computer Network, and strengthened the graduate program.

Hancock left Purdue in 1984 to become executive vice president and chief technical officer for United Telecommunications, Inc. He assumed responsibility for technology and corporate planning for that company in 1985 and, in 1987, was assigned responsibility for corporate development and technology.

Hancock is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the American Society for Engineering Education, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. A member of the National Academy of Engineering, he has received the Lamme Award and was named a Purdue Distinguished Engineering Alumnus in 1984.