John T. Casteen III

John Thomas Casteen III (December 11, 1943 – March 18, 2025) was an American educator. He served as president of the University of Connecticut from 1985 to 1990 and as Professor of English and president of the University of Virginia from 1990 through 2010.

Early life and career Casteen was born at Portsmouth, Virginia, in 1943. Casteen earned his B.A. (1965), M.A. (1966) and Ph.D. (1970) degrees in English from the University of Virginia. He was a medievalist and member of Phi Beta Kappa. From 1968 to 1969, he wrote a column called "Soundings" for the student newspaper, The Cavalier Daily, in which he wrote about the administration of the university, conducting sympathetic interviews with deans and defending the policies of the administration.

Casteen began his professional career teaching English at the University of California, Berkeley, and later at the University of Virginia. From 1975 to 1982, he served as Dean of Admissions at the University of Virginia, resigning to serve as Virginia Secretary of Education under Governor Charles S. Robb from 1982 to 1985. While serving as secretary, he taught as an adjunct professor at Virginia Commonwealth University.

During Casteen's tenure, major building projects included Hereford College, Bryan Hall, the Robertson Hall expansion of Rouss Hall for the McIntire School of Commerce, the South Lawn Project, the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, the University Bookstore, the Aquatic and Fitness Center, and John Paul Jones Arena.

Casteen announced on June 12, 2009, that he would retire in 2010.

Personal life and death Casteen was married to Betsy Foote, and they had five children.