Olin Clyde Robison
Encyclopedia
Olin Clyde Robison served as the thirteenth president of Middlebury College
, 1975-1990http://www.middlebury.edu/about/president/emeriti/olin_robison.htm.
A native of Anacoco, Louisiana
, Robison studied at Baylor University and Southwestern Theological Seminary, and received a D. Phil. from Oxford in 1963. He held various positions in the Johnson administration, namely in the Peace Corps
and Department of State. He later served as provost at Bowdoin College
before being elected president of Middlebury. A personal and professional interest for Dr. Robison was the Soviet Union and its political relations with the United States. He participated in numerous trips sponsored by the State Department and non-governmental organizations to Moscow and environs.
Robison's tenure at Middlebury saw growth in student enrollment and physical infrastructure, and the conversion of fraternities to less exclusive "social houses." He also reinvigorated Middlebury's international reputation through expansion of language teaching and the recruitment of foreign-national students, particularly from the former Soviet Union and East European countries. During his 15-year tenure, he also promoted faculty tenure opportunities through salary increases for research on campus and external locations. He was well regarded for his fundraising capabilities that resulted in significant facilities renovations including the Arts Center. As part of his national and international outreach, he hosted the Dalai Lama on campus in 1985.
Following retirement in 1990, Robison continued to teach before serving as the eighth president of the Salzburg Global Seminar, a non-profit organization based in Salzburg
, Austria
whose mission is to challenge current and future leaders to develop creative ideas for solving global problems. Robison retired from his position as president and chief executive officer of the Seminar in 2005.
Robison is a Director of American Shared Hospital Services, The Investment Company of America, American Mutual Fund and AMCAP (all of the American Funds Group) and has served on the Council (Board) of the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London. He is a frequent commentator on Vermont Public Radio
.
Salzburg Global Seminar
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
, 1975-1990http://www.middlebury.edu/about/president/emeriti/olin_robison.htm.
A native of Anacoco, Louisiana
Anacoco, Louisiana
Anacoco is a village in Vernon Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 866 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Fort Polk South Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Anacoco is located at ....
, Robison studied at Baylor University and Southwestern Theological Seminary, and received a D. Phil. from Oxford in 1963. He held various positions in the Johnson administration, namely in the Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
and Department of State. He later served as provost at Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
before being elected president of Middlebury. A personal and professional interest for Dr. Robison was the Soviet Union and its political relations with the United States. He participated in numerous trips sponsored by the State Department and non-governmental organizations to Moscow and environs.
Robison's tenure at Middlebury saw growth in student enrollment and physical infrastructure, and the conversion of fraternities to less exclusive "social houses." He also reinvigorated Middlebury's international reputation through expansion of language teaching and the recruitment of foreign-national students, particularly from the former Soviet Union and East European countries. During his 15-year tenure, he also promoted faculty tenure opportunities through salary increases for research on campus and external locations. He was well regarded for his fundraising capabilities that resulted in significant facilities renovations including the Arts Center. As part of his national and international outreach, he hosted the Dalai Lama on campus in 1985.
Following retirement in 1990, Robison continued to teach before serving as the eighth president of the Salzburg Global Seminar, a non-profit organization based in Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
whose mission is to challenge current and future leaders to develop creative ideas for solving global problems. Robison retired from his position as president and chief executive officer of the Seminar in 2005.
Robison is a Director of American Shared Hospital Services, The Investment Company of America, American Mutual Fund and AMCAP (all of the American Funds Group) and has served on the Council (Board) of the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London. He is a frequent commentator on Vermont Public Radio
Vermont Public Radio
-WVPR:-WRVT:-VPR Classical:Since 2007, VPR has broadcast classical music on a separate network. The main station is WOXR , which is licensed to Schuyler Falls, New York and serves the Burlington/Plattsburgh area....
.
External links
Middlebury CollegeSalzburg Global Seminar