Scott, William Alexander Gowdie

William Alexander Gowdie Scott was born 1st October 1916. He attended Melbourne Boys High School, then graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne (1937) and a Bachelor of Letters from the University of Oxford (1948). Professor Scott was a tutor, reader and lecturer in English at the University of Melbourne, 1938-60; received a Carnegie grant to visit departments of English in colleges in the USA, 1949; travelled on sabbatical leave to study in London, Oxford and Italy, 1955; was acting Professor of English, University of Melbourne, 1958-60. Professor Scott was appointed Chair of English and founding dean of the Faculty of Arts in 1960. Professor Scott resigned as dean in 1965 and retained the Chair of English until 1972. From 1972-75 he was Pro Vice-Chancellor, then Vice-Chancellor in 1976, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor from 1977 until his retirement in 1981. He received an Honorary Doctor of Law (Monash) (1981) and became an Emeritus Professor (1982) In retirement he was Chairman of Victorian Planning and Finance Committee of Commonwealth Schools Commission (1984-87) and Member of Federation of Non-Government Schools Funding Review Committee (1988-90). He died in 1990.