Joseph N. Crowley was the president of the University of Nevada, Reno, from 1978 to 2001. His twenty-three years as president mark the longest single tenure of any of the university's chief executives. California State University, Fresno, and the University of Iowa have both presented Crowley with distinguished alumni awards, and he has also received five honorary degrees. He has continued to live in Reno, Nevada, since his retirement from education.