Robert J. Bernard

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Robert James Bernard (February 6, 1894 – June 9, 1981[1]) was an American academic administrator. He was instrumental in the founding of the Claremont Colleges, a consortium of adjacent, affiliated higher education institutions in Claremont, California, and served as its leader from 1942 to 1963.[2]

Early life[]

Bernard was born in Collinwood, Ohio, and grew up in Denver, Colorado.[1] He briefly attended Colorado College before transferring to Pomona College when his family moved to Hollywood.[1] He majored in English and graduated in 1917.[1]

Career[]

After graduation, he became an assistant to Pomona president James Blaisdell.[1] When the Claremont Colleges were established in 1925, he was appointed secretary under Blaisdell.[2] He became administrative director in 1942; his title changed to managing director in 1944 and president in 1959.[2]

Later life[]

Bernard retired in February 1963.[1] He was president and then executive director of the Association of California Independent Colleges and Universities between 1961 and 1967.[2] He wrote a history of the Claremont Colleges, titled An Unfinished Dream, shortly before his death in 1981.[2]

Legacy[]

The Bernard Field Station, a biological research station owned by the Claremont Colleges, is named after him.[3]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Bernard 1982, p. xvii.
  2. ^ a b c d e Kennedy, Dana (June 15, 1981). "President Fashioned a Group From Six Academic Clusters". Los Angeles Times. p. 20. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  3. ^ "The Bernard Biological Field Station: A Short History, 1920s-2015". Friends of the Bernard Biological Field Station. Retrieved October 22, 2021.

Bibliography[]

Retrieved from ""