List of presidents of Brown University
The following is a list of presidents of Brown University From 1765 to the 1920s, the president was required by the University Charter to be of the Baptist denomination:
President | Brown Class | Life | Tenure | Events | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | ![]() |
James Manning | – | 1738–1791 | 1765–1791 | The College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations is established in Warren, RI, (1765) moves to Providence (1770) and establishes a campus on College Hill with the construction of University Hall (1770). The college closes in December 1776 due to the American Revolution and reopens in September 1782.[1] |
2. | ![]() |
Jonathan Maxcy | 1787 | 1768–1820 | 1792–1802 | First alum to be president and youngest president in Brown's history; Maxcy's reputation as a skilled orator benefits the reputation of the fledgling college.[2][3]
Enrollment Passes 100 Students (1800). |
3. | ![]() |
Asa Messer | 1790 | 1769–1836 | 1802–1826 | The College of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations is renamed Brown University following a gift from Nicholas Brown, Jr (1804). A program in medical study is organized (1811) following the examples set by Harvard and Dartmouth. The Messer administration is characterized by increasing unruliness and misbehavior of students.[4] |
4. | ![]() |
Francis Wayland | – | 1796–1865 | 1827–1855 | Wayland sets out to improve student discipline. Medical instruction is suspended (1827) following a dispute over a proposed residence requirement for medical professors.[5] Brown establishes the third civilian engineering program in the country (1847). Wayland urges adoption of a broader curriculum (1850), laying the groundwork for the Open Curriculum. |
5. | ![]() |
Barnas Sears | 1825 | 1802–1880 | 1855–1867 | Despite the Panic of 1857 and Civil War, Sears oversees the construction of a new chemistry laboratory and an increase in the University's endowment.[6] Entrance and degree requirements are made stricter, benefiting the reputation of the University.[7]
|
6. | ![]() |
Alexis Caswell | 1822 | 1799–1877 | 1868–1872 | The University's financial assets grow by nearly 85%.Tuition, faculty salaries, and enrollment all increase.[9] |
7. | ![]() |
Ezekiel Robinson[10] | 1838 | 1815–1894 | 1872–1889 | Graduate study is instituted (1888–1889). Robinson (1878), Slater (1879), and Sayles Halls (1881) are constructed. |
8. | ![]() |
Elisha Andrews | 1870 | 1844–1917 | 1889–1898 | Enrollment more than doubles.[7] The graduate program is expanded and the Women's College is founded (1891). |
9. | ![]() |
William Faunce[11] | 1880 | 1859–1930 | 1899–1929 | Enrollment passes 1,000 (1915) and doubles to pass 2,000 (1925). The Women's College is renamed Pembroke College in Brown University (1928). |
10. | ![]() |
Clarence Barbour | 1888 | 1867–1937 | 1929–1937 | Last of long line of Baptist minister Presidents |
11. | ![]() |
Henry Wriston | – | 1889–1978 | 1937–1955 | First non-Baptist (Methodist) president and first president since Wayland to not be a Brown alumnus |
12. | Barnaby Keeney | – | 1914–1980 | 1955–1966 | Brown purchases the Dexter Asylum property. | |
13. | Ray Heffner[12] | – | 1925–2012 | 1966–1969 | New Curriculum passed | |
14. | Donald Hornig[13] | – | 1920–2013 | 1970–1976 | Pembroke fully merges with the College of Brown University (1971). A medical program is re-established (1972). | |
15. | Howard Swearer | – | 1932–1991 | 1977–1988 | The Watson Institute is founded as the Institute for International Studies (1986). | |
16. | ![]() |
Vartan Gregorian | – | 1934–2021 | 1989–1997 | Vartan Gregorian was Brown's first foreign-born president. During his tenure, Brown sees fundraising success, with the University's endowment surpassing $1 billion.[14] Applications increase and the University's reputation grows.[15] |
17. | ![]() |
Gordon Gee | – | 1944– | 1998–2000 | Plans announced for a large biomedical sciences building requiring the sale of $80 million in bonds. Funds cut for a popular string quartet drawing criticism that Gee's vision was at odds with the University's liberal arts-oriented identity.[16] Gee resigns abruptly after only two years in a move criticized by University leaders.[17] |
18. | ![]() |
Ruth Simmons | – | 1945– | 2001–2012 | At the time of her appointment Simmons became Brown's first woman president and the first African-American president of an Ivy League university.[18] In 2001, Time named Simmons America's best college president. The Sidney E. Frank Hall for Life Sciences (2006) and Granoff Center for the Creative Arts both open (2011).
|
19. | ![]() |
Christina Paxson | – | 1960– | 2012– | Christina Paxson is Brown's current president. During her tenure, Brown established its School of Public Health, expands the physical footprint of the School of Engineering, and completes a historically large fundraising campaign.[20][21] The university also undertakes a significant expansion of residential facilities.[22][23] |
References[]
- ^ "Encyclopedia Brunoniana | Revolutionary War". www.brown.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- ^ "Second President: Jonathan Maxcy | Brown University Timeline". www.brown.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- ^ "Encyclopedia Brunoniana | Maxcy, Jonathan". www.brown.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- ^ "Encyclopedia Brunoniana | Messer, Asa". www.brown.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- ^ "Encyclopedia Brunoniana | Medical education". www.brown.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- ^ "Encyclopedia Brunoniana | Sears, Barnas". www.brown.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- ^ a b "Brown: A Timeline". www.brown.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- ^ "Encyclopedia Brunoniana | Sears, Barnas". www.brown.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- ^ "Encyclopedia Brunoniana | Caswell, Alexis". www.brown.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- ^ From Martha Mitchell’s Encyclopedia Brunoniana: Gilman, Ezekiel
- ^ From Martha Mitchell’s Encyclopedia Brunoniana: Faunce, William H.P.
- ^ From Martha Mitchell’s Encyclopedia Brunoniana: Heffner, Ray L.
- ^ From Martha Mitchell’s Encyclopedia Brunoniana: Hornig, Donald F.
- ^ Pender, Caelyn (2021-04-16). "Gregorian dies at 87". Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
- ^ Arenson, Karen W. (1997-01-08). "Gregorian, Ending an 8-Year Tenure at Brown, Is Leaving 'a Hot College Even Hotter'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- ^ "Premature Evacuation". The Village Voice. 2000-08-01. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- ^ Wilgoren, Jodi (2000-02-08). "President Stuns Brown U. by Leaving to Be Vanderbilt Chancellor". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- ^ Simmons, Ruth. "I learned early how to survive racism. Now we all need to learn how to fight it". Washington Post. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
- ^ "BROWN MED GETS $100M". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- ^ Fain, Barry; Isenberg, Robert. "State of the Campus". Providence Media. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- ^ "Brown surpasses $3 billion BrownTogether fundraising goal early, will extend campaign". Brown University. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- ^ "Brown announces new residence hall plan". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- ^ "East Side Mini-Mart to close in "bittersweet" farewell as University makes room for new dorm". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
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