Henry Skinner West (December 23, 1870 – April 9, 1961) was the fifth principal of Maryland State Normal School (now Towson University).

Henry Skinner West was born on December 23, 1870, in Baltimore.^[1][2] He attended schools in Maryland. He graduated from both the Baltimore City College and the University of Maryland in 1890. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1893 and a PhD in 1899 from Johns Hopkins University.^[1][3]

From 1890 to 1891, West taught at a Baltimore elementary school. He then worked as a professor at Baltimore City College from 1894 to 1897 and again in 1900. He was an instructor at Johns Hopkins University from 1899 to 1900.^[1] He was principal at Western High School from 1900 to 1906.^[1][4] West was the special assistant superintendent for schools in Baltimore from 1906 to 1911. He then worked for Johns Hopkins summer schools for teachers from 1911 to 1915.^[4] West was professor of education and director of secondary schools in Cincinnati, Ohio, from 1912 to 1917.^[4] During this time, he was a professor of education at the University of Cincinnati.^[5]

In 1917, Dr. West was appointed as principal of the Maryland State Normal School (now Towson University). During his tenure, enrollment at the school dropped severely due to World War I and funding and dormity space for the school was inadequate and the teachers were poorly paid.^[3] In 1920, West left his position to become the superintendent of schools in Baltimore. He held this position for five years.^[3] He resigned following criticism about his administration.^[4] As principal, he held an enrollment campaign to attract more students, reorganized the school administration and introduced the first summer session in 1918. He helped Maryland adopt a system for teacher certification.^[3]

In 1926, West went to the University of Miami in Florida to work as a professor of education. In 1928, he became its first dean of the College of Liberal Arts. He also became the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in 1929.^[2][4][3] He also taught at the University of North Carolina in the summer months.^[4] West retired in 1942 and was named dean emeritus at the University of Miami for both the School of Education and the College of Arts and Sciences.^[6]

West married Anne Brown Downman on November 17, 1900.^[7] They had two sons and one daughter, Henry D., Julian S. and Harriet.^[2][4]

West died on April 9, 1961, at his home in Evanston, Illinois.^[1]

In 1955, the Henry S. West Laboratory School was named in his honor.^[6]