LEE SHERMAN DREYFUS was born in Milwaukee. After serving in the U.S. Navy in World War II, Dreyfus returned to Wisconsin and entered the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1949, a master's degree in 1952, and a doctorate in communication in 1957. From 1949 to 1952, Dreyfus was an instructor in the University of Wisconsin-Extension speech department. From 1952 to 1962, he was professor of mass communications at Wayne State University. In 1962 he returned to the University of Wisconsin-Madison as professor of speech and radio-television education. He also managed the university's public television station and chaired the university's radio-television-film division. In 1967 Dreyfus became the ninth president of Wisconsin State University-Stevens Point (UW-SP) and served until 1972 when he was named as the first chancellor of UW-SP following the merger of the UW System. He served as chancellor until 1978 when he ran for governor of Wisconsin.