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:

No. Image President Brown Class Life Tenure Notes
1 James Manning–1738–17911765–1791The College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations was founded in Warren, (1765) and relocated to Providence (1770). Brown's current campus on College Hill is established 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 Maxcy17871768–18201792–1802First alum to be president and youngest president in Brown's history; Maxcy's reputation as a skilled orator benefited the reputation of the fledgling college.[2][3] Enrollment passed 100 students (1800).
3 Asa Messer17901769–18361802–1826The College of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations was renamed Brown University following a gift from Nicholas Brown, Jr (1804). A program in medical study was organized (1811) following the examples set by Harvard and Dartmouth. The Messer administration was characterized by increasing unruliness and misbehavior of students.[4]
4 Francis Wayland–1796–18651827–1855Wayland sought out to improve student discipline. Medical instruction was suspended (1827) following a dispute over a proposed residence requirement for medical professors.[5] Brown established the third civilian engineering program in the country (1847). Wayland urged adoption of a broader curriculum (1850), laying the groundwork for the Open Curriculum.
5 Barnas Sears18251802–18801855–1867Despite the Panic of 1857 and Civil War, Sears oversaw the construction of a new chemistry laboratory and an increase in the University's endowment.[6] Entrance and degree requirements were made stricter, benefiting the reputation of the University.[7] Sears was widely popular among students.[8]
6 Alexis Caswell18221799–18771868–1872The University's financial assets grew by nearly 85%.Tuition, faculty salaries, and enrollment all increased.[9]
7 Ezekiel Robinson[10]18381815–18941872–1889Graduate study was instituted (1888–1889). Robinson (1878), Slater (1879), and Sayles Halls (1881) were constructed.
8 Elisha Andrews18701844–19171889–1898Enrollment more than doubled.[7] The graduate program was expanded and the Women's College was founded (1891).
9 William Faunce[11]18801859–19301899–1929Enrollment passed 1,000 (1915) and doubled to pass 2,000 (1925). The Women's College was renamed Pembroke College in Brown University (1928).
10 Clarence Barbour18881867–19371929–1937Last of long line of Baptist minister Presidents
11 Henry Wriston–1889–19781937–1955First non-Baptist (Methodist) president and first president since Wayland to not be a Brown alumnus
12 Barnaby Keeney–1914–19801955–1966Brown purchased the Dexter Asylum property.
13 Ray Heffner–1925–20121966–1969Brown's New Curriculum was passed. Heffner resigned after only three years, stating "I have simply reached the conclusion that I do not enjoy being a university president."[12]
14 Donald Hornig–1920–20131970–1976Pembroke fully merged with the College of Brown University (1971). A medical program was re-established (1972).[13]
15 Howard Swearer–1932–19911977–1988Under Swearer's leadership, Brown advanced in rankings, saw a threefold increase in research grants, quadrupled its previously-dwindling endowment, and grew in popularity.[14][15] The Watson Institute was founded as the Institute for International Studies (1986). Brown's athletic facilities expanded significantly with the construction of both the Olney-Margolies Athletic Center (1981) and the Pizzitola Sports Center (1988).[16]
16 Vartan Gregorian–1934–20211989–1997Vartan Gregorian was Brown's first foreign-born president. During his tenure, Brown saw fundraising success, with the University's endowment surpassing $1 billion.[17] Applications increased, undergraduate scholarships doubled, and the University's reputation grew.[18][19]
17 Gordon Gee–1944–1998–2000Plans were announced for a large biomedical sciences building requiring the sale of $80 million in bonds; funds were cut for a popular string quartet drawing criticism that Gee's vision is at odds with the University's liberal arts-oriented identity.[20] Gee resigned abruptly after only two years in a move criticized by University leaders.[21]
18 Ruth Simmons–1945–2001–2012At the time of her appointment Simmons became Brown's first woman president and the first African-American president of an Ivy League university.[22] 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 opened (2011).

Following a $100 million gift, the Medical School was renamed the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University (2007).[23] The University opened a new medical campus in the Jewelry District (2011).[24]

19 Christina Paxson–1960–2012–Christina Paxson is Brown's current president. During her tenure, Brown has established its School of Public Health, expanded the physical footprint of the School of Engineering, and completed a historically large fundraising campaign.[25][26] The university has also undertaken a significant expansion of residential facilities, constructing its first new dormitories in 35 years.[27][28]

References
  1. "Encyclopedia Brunoniana | Revolutionary War". www.brown.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  2. "Second President: Jonathan Maxcy | Brown University Timeline". www.brown.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  3. "Encyclopedia Brunoniana | Maxcy, Jonathan". www.brown.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  4. "Encyclopedia Brunoniana | Messer, Asa". www.brown.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  5. "Encyclopedia Brunoniana | Medical education". www.brown.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  6. "Encyclopedia Brunoniana | Sears, Barnas". www.brown.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  7. "Brown: A Timeline". www.brown.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  8. "Encyclopedia Brunoniana | Sears, Barnas". www.brown.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  9. "Encyclopedia Brunoniana | Caswell, Alexis". www.brown.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  10. From Martha Mitchell’s Encyclopedia Brunoniana: Gilman, Ezekiel
  11. From Martha Mitchell’s Encyclopedia Brunoniana: Faunce, William H.P.
  12. "Encyclopedia Brunoniana | Heffner, Ray L." www.brown.edu. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  13. "Encyclopedia Brunoniana | Hornig, Donald F." www.brown.edu. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  14. "Obituaries : Howard R. Swearer; Transformed Brown University Into 'Hot College'". Los Angeles Times. 1991-11-02. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  15. Lambert, Bruce (1991-10-21). "Howard R. Swearer Is Dead at 59; Led Brown University in the 80's". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  16. "Encyclopedia Brunoniana | Swearer, Howard R." www.brown.edu. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  17. Pender, Caelyn (2021-04-16). "Gregorian dies at 87". Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  18. 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.
  19. McFadden, Robert D. (2021-04-16). "Vartan Gregorian, Savior of the New York Public Library, Dies at 87". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  20. "Premature Evacuation". The Village Voice. 2000-08-01. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  21. 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.
  22. 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.
  23. "BROWN MED GETS $100M". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  24. "Med Ed dedication touts U.'s growth". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  25. Fain, Barry; Isenberg, Robert. "State of the Campus". Providence Media. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  26. "Brown surpasses $3 billion BrownTogether fundraising goal early, will extend campaign". Brown University. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  27. "Students move into new Health and Wellness Dorm for summer semester". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  28. "Brook St. dorm construction to be completed by fall 2023". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
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