Dickey served as the 12th President of Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, from 1945 to 1970, and helped revitalize the Ivy League institution.

[1] A strong believer in the value of efforts towards international cooperation,[2] he was part of the United Nations' Collective Measures Committee in 1951.

The William Jewett Tucker Foundation was opened by President Dickey, offering students opportunity and academic credit for social activism.

During his 25-year tenure, Dickey headed two capital campaigns, doubled African American student enrollment, reinvigorated Dartmouth Medical School, built the Hopkins Center and instituted continuing education for alumni.

After stepping down as president, he continued his affiliation with the college by teaching Canadian-American relations as the Bicentennial Professor of Public Affairs.