Presidents of Northeastern (with years of tenure and campus buildings named in their honor):
- Frank Palmer
Speare (1898-1940, Speare Hall residence
hall)
- Carl Stephens Ell
(1940-1959, Ell Building, once believed to be named
Ell Student Center)
- Asa S. Knowles (1959-1975, Knowles Hall law school building)
- Kenneth G. Ryder
(1975-1989, Ryder Hall arts and humanities classroom
building)
- John A. Curry (1989-1996, Curry Student Center)
- Richard M. Freeland (1996-present).