Richard Durst
Encyclopedia
Richard Durst serves as the eighth president of Baldwin-Wallace College
in Berea, Ohio
. He became president in 2006.
and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma
in Scenic Design for Theatre. He and his wife, Karen, were married in 1974 in Norman, Oklahoma. He is the father of two: Amanda Durst and Derek Durst.
(2000–2006). Prior to that, he was Dean of the College of Fine and Performing Arts (1996–2000) and Special Assistant to the Chancellor (1997–2000) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Durst served as Dean of the School of Fine Arts at the University of Minnesota
, Duluth from 1989–1996, where he was full professor and then department chair before that. Additionally, Durst has served as Executive Director of the International Council of Fine Arts Deans (ICFAD); he is a Past President of both the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) and the International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians (OISTAT), whose world headquarters are in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
In March 2011 Durst announced his intention to retire in May 2012.
Baldwin-Wallace College
Baldwin–Wallace College is a liberal arts college in Berea, Ohio, founded in 1845. It is home to the Riemenschneider-Bach Institute and the Baldwin–Wallace Conservatory of Music, an internationally renowned music school. The college is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Students receive a...
in Berea, Ohio
Berea, Ohio
- History :The first European settlers were originally from Connecticut. Berea fell within Connecticut's Western Reserve and was surveyed and divided into townships and ranges by one Gideon Granger, a gentleman who served as Postmaster General under President Thomas Jefferson...
. He became president in 2006.
Childhood, education, and family
Richard Durst was born on August 31, 1945 in Scottsbluff Hospital in Scottsbluff, Nebraska to parents Wayne Durst and Pearle Jenson Durst. His parents had a cattle ranch in Harrisburg, Nebraska. However, Richard spent most of his childhood living with his grandparents in Kansas City, Missouri. Richard Durst served four years in the US Navy during the Vietnam War. He is a graduate of Missouri Western State UniversityMissouri Western State University
Missouri Western State University is a public, co-educational university located in Saint Joseph, Missouri. The school enrolls 6,010 undergraduate students and 124 graduate students.-History:...
and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
in Scenic Design for Theatre. He and his wife, Karen, were married in 1974 in Norman, Oklahoma. He is the father of two: Amanda Durst and Derek Durst.
Career
Before assuming the Presidency of Baldwin-Wallace College, Durst was Dean of the College of Arts and Architecture and Executive Director of University Arts Services at the Pennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
(2000–2006). Prior to that, he was Dean of the College of Fine and Performing Arts (1996–2000) and Special Assistant to the Chancellor (1997–2000) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Durst served as Dean of the School of Fine Arts at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, Duluth from 1989–1996, where he was full professor and then department chair before that. Additionally, Durst has served as Executive Director of the International Council of Fine Arts Deans (ICFAD); he is a Past President of both the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) and the International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians (OISTAT), whose world headquarters are in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
In March 2011 Durst announced his intention to retire in May 2012.
Baldwin-Wallace facts
- Durst is the first president of Baldwin-Wallace College since 1981 not to hold a Ph.D. The last president to have not earned a Ph.D. was Alfred Bryan BondsAlfred Bryan BondsAlfred Bryan Bonds was a public servant, educator, and college administrator. He served as the fifth president of Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio from 1955 to 1981.-Early childhood and education:...
, whose doctorates were honoris causa. - Durst is only the second president in college history not to hold a degree in divinity, or be a Methodist minister, which is the college's religious affiliation.
- Durst is the first president to have a fine arts background.
- Durst is the third president affiliated with a Big TenBig Ten ConferenceThe Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
university (faculty and dean at Penn State and the University of MinnesotaUniversity of MinnesotaThe University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
), the others were Albert Boynton StormsAlbert Boynton StormsAlbert Boynton Storms was a professor, university administrator, and Methodist theolgian. He was President of Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa; and the second president of Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, Ohio-Education:...
(student at MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
), and Arthur Breslich (student at WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
).