Mason Welch Gross (June 3, 1911 – October 11, 1977) was an American television quiz show personality, philosopher and academic.

[2] He returned to the United States and studied at Harvard University under Alfred North Whitehead, earning his PhD in 1938.

He then served in World War II in the Army Intelligence Corps, and was assigned to a bomber group based in Italy.

In 1947 he was promoted to assistant dean and associate professor, and in 1949 was appointed to the newly created position of provost to take over the duties of the ailing Robert Clarkson Clothier who took a leave of absence.

Clothier resigned his office in 1951 and Gross continued as provost under the newly appointed Lewis Webster Jones.

Gross served during turbulent times with student protests over the Vietnam War which saw the Rutgers ROTC building burned, and race riots in nearby Newark, New Jersey in 1967.

During this time, Gross received recognition for refusing to dismiss Eugene Genovese, a professor who early during the Vietnam War publicly supported the Viet Cong and welcomed their victory in Southeast Asia.