Howard Jerome Burnett (October 14, 1929 – June 16, 2019) was a president of Washington & Jefferson College.

degree in political science from Amherst College in 1952; he earned magna cum laude honors and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

[1][2] Prior to entering academia, Burnett gained experience in business and served in the military.

[1] Burnett took office as president of Washington & Jefferson College on July 1, 1970; he was officially inaugurated on April 3, 1971.

[1] To celebrate the bicentennial of W&J's founding, Burnett spearheaded the "Bicentennial Development Program," which resulted in the construction of three new buildings on campus: the Dieter-Porter Life Science Building, the Olin Fine Arts Center, and the Rossin Campus Center.