He worked as a professor of American literature at Ohio State University, then as the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Ohio State in 1944, and as vice president in 1948.[1][2] He wrote three novels and several academic volumes.[2]
President of the University of Michigan
In 1951, Hatcher became the eighth President of the University of Michigan.[1] He led the post-war expansion of the university, overseeing the construction of the North Campus. He established Flint Senior College and the Dearborn Center with funding from the state's auto industry, which later developed into branch campuses.[1][2] He stepped down in 1967.[1] In 1968, the university voted to rename the General Library to the Hatcher Graduate Library in honor of President Hatcher.[1]