April 2009

Lou Weschler was born in San Pedro, California in 1933. He lived in Lomita, San Pedro, Long Beach, Phelan, Fresno, Seal Beach, Los Angeles, Davis, and Palos Verdes Estates, California as well as Seattle and Anchorage at different periods of his life. He, Joann (wife), Suzanne (daughter) and Sally (daughter) moved to Tempe in 1980 when he joined the School of Public Affairs faculty at ASU. Joann, who was editor of Insight for more than a decade, and Lou both retired from ASU and continue to live in the same house one mile from the Tempe campus.

Lou graduated from Harbor Community (technical) College) in 1953 and began a career in illustration and painting. After serving in the U. S. Army in Alaska, he graduated from California State University, Long beach, in 1958. He completed the MA in political science in 1960 and the PhD in political science in 1964 at UCLA.

Before coming to ASU he served on the faculties of the University of California, Davis, the University of Washington and the University of Southern California. His major research focused on natural resources and environmental quality management. At ASU he held several administrative posts including founding Director of the Doctoral Program in Public Administration, acting Dean of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design and acting Dean of the College of Public Programs.

He retired from ASU in 2000 and restarted his career in art including photography, painting and print making. He became a docent at the ASU Art Museum in 2002 and continues serving there. He also joined Joann in her work with her business, the Sunshine School for Dogs, as assistant teacher in 2003 and retired from that school in 2008 when Joann sold it.

He joined the ASURA in 1999. He is a charter member of the Emeritus College. A current role is serving as liaison between the two boards.

Lou was interviewed by ASURA's Video History Project team on April 29, 2009. Both the full interview and a short clip from the interview are available for on-line viewing.