John William Atkinson

He was a World War II veteran, teacher, scholar, and long term member of the University of Michigan community.

After the war Atkinson completed his undergraduate psychology degree with Honors at Wesleyan University, graduating in the middle of the 1946-47 academic year.

As one of the original founders of the University of Michigan's Honors Program in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, Atkinson fostered unique opportunities and created multi-disciplinary courses to challenge undergraduate students.

[6][7] Atkinson was honored on his retirement with a special colloquium at the University which brought together a number of his former students and colleagues who spoke of his inspiration and contributions to the science of human motivation.

[9] Atkinson insisted on ethical behavior and highly valued the fundamental freedoms on which the United States was founded.

In the early 1970s, his beliefs led him to become outraged by the behavior of President Richard M. Nixon, whom he viewed as a threat to liberty and justice.