John Bassett

John Bassett is a scholar, author, professor of American literature, and was the second president of Heritage University. Under Bassett’s leadership, the university established an array of new degree programs in response to the needs of students. Additionally, Bassett led the university in its recovery from a devastating fire in 2012, which destroyed its original campus building, Petrie Hall (the former McKinley School).

Prior to taking the presidency at Heritage, Bassett served as the president of Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. He spent fourteen years teaching and researching American Literature at Wayne State University. Bassett earned a Ph.D. in English from the University of Rochester and completed master’s and bachelor’s degrees at Ohio Wesleyan University.