Russell K. Osgood
Encyclopedia
Russell King Osgood was the twelfth president of Grinnell College
(1998–2010) and a professor of history
and political science
. He is a legal scholar and holds a B.A. and J.D. from Yale University
, formerly serving as the dean of Cornell Law School
. In 2003, Russell Osgood was the highest paid liberal arts college
president in the U.S.; he earned $509,130 in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004. Since 2010, he is currently serving as a Visiting Professor of Law at Washington University in St. Louis School of Law.
; and strengthening the public profile of Grinnell College, Grinnellians, and the value of a Grinnell education.
The Grinnell campus has undergone much construction and renovation in the 2000s. Though the plans began during the tenure of the previous president, Pamela Ferguson, many of the projects have occurred under Osgood. World-renowned architect Cesar Pelli
has designed several of the recent buildings.
Osgood stepped down from his post as president of Grinnell, effective July 31, 2010. The Board of Trustees later chose Raynard S. Kington
as Osgood's successor. Reflecting on his experiences teaching both undergraduates and law students, Osgood said he "enjoyed interacting with law students as a teacher and dean, but he says he enjoys undergraduates more. 'I like law students,' he says, 'but they're much more developed and formed. Undergraduates are still making fundamental choices in their life. It’s more interesting to interact with them.'"
In January 2011, Osgood was named a semi-finalist for the position of Dean of the Boston College Law School.
Students, staff, and faculty report seeing him jogging at ungodly hours in short, red swimsuits.
"I have about 15 pairs of bathing suits," Osgood said, "About half of them are red. I don’t know why I have 15. If you see me around my house at night, you’ll see me wearing them. I just wear them as shorts. Not just for running purposes—I wear them when I fly on planes.”
The Law in Massachusetts. The Supreme Judicial Court 1692-1992, Editor and Contributor, 1992, Supreme Judicial Court Historical Society
The Law of Pensions and Profit-Sharing. Qualified Retirement Plans and Other Deferred Compensation Arrangements (1984, Little Brown) with Supplements.
Grinnell College
Grinnell College is a private liberal arts college in Grinnell, Iowa, U.S. known for its strong tradition of social activism. It was founded in 1846, when a group of pioneer New England Congregationalists established the Trustees of Iowa College....
(1998–2010) and a professor of history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. He is a legal scholar and holds a B.A. and J.D. from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, formerly serving as the dean of Cornell Law School
Cornell Law School
Cornell Law School, located in Ithaca, New York, is a graduate school of Cornell University and one of the five Ivy League law schools. The school confers three law degrees...
. In 2003, Russell Osgood was the highest paid liberal arts college
Liberal arts college
A liberal arts college is one with a primary emphasis on undergraduate study in the liberal arts and sciences.Students in the liberal arts generally major in a particular discipline while receiving exposure to a wide range of academic subjects, including sciences as well as the traditional...
president in the U.S.; he earned $509,130 in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004. Since 2010, he is currently serving as a Visiting Professor of Law at Washington University in St. Louis School of Law.
Pre-Grinnell career
- Yale CollegeYale CollegeYale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
, B.A. 1969 - United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, 1969-1971: Surface Line Officer, U.S.S. Glover AGDE-1 - Yale Law SchoolYale Law SchoolYale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
, J.D. 1974 - Employed by Hill & Barlow, 1974-1978: Associate Attorney, Tax and Corporate Departments, specializing in employee benefits
- Boston UniversityBoston UniversityBoston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
School of Law: Associate Professor of Law 1978-1980 - Cornell UniversityCornell UniversityCornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
: Associate Professor of Law, 1980–1982; Professor of Law, 1982–1988; Editor, Law and History Review, 1982–1987; Dean and Professor of Law, 1988 to July 1998
Osgood at Grinnell
Osgood's present administrative actions at Grinnell revolved around a strategic plan approved by the trustees in Spring 2005. The five-year plan's goals included increasing the emphasis on inquiry-based learning and broadening the curriculum; fostering faculty, student, and staff sense of ambition, adventure, and well-being; advancing Grinnell College as a more diverse, robust intellectual community; improving the fiscal balance and stability of the college; contributing to the vitality of the city of GrinnellGrinnell, Iowa
Grinnell is a city in Poweshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,218 at the 2010 census. Grinnell was named after Josiah Bushnell Grinnell and is the home of Grinnell College.- History :...
; and strengthening the public profile of Grinnell College, Grinnellians, and the value of a Grinnell education.
The Grinnell campus has undergone much construction and renovation in the 2000s. Though the plans began during the tenure of the previous president, Pamela Ferguson, many of the projects have occurred under Osgood. World-renowned architect Cesar Pelli
César Pelli
César Pelli is an Argentine architect known for designing some of the world's tallest buildings and other major urban landmarks. In 1991, the American Institute of Architects listed Pelli among the ten most influential living American architects...
has designed several of the recent buildings.
Osgood stepped down from his post as president of Grinnell, effective July 31, 2010. The Board of Trustees later chose Raynard S. Kington
Raynard S. Kington
Raynard S. Kington is the president of Grinnell College. He was most recently deputy director of the National Institutes of Health, and officially became the 13th president of Grinnell College on August 1, 2010. Kington entered a combined B.S./M.D. program at the University of Michigan at age 16,...
as Osgood's successor. Reflecting on his experiences teaching both undergraduates and law students, Osgood said he "enjoyed interacting with law students as a teacher and dean, but he says he enjoys undergraduates more. 'I like law students,' he says, 'but they're much more developed and formed. Undergraduates are still making fundamental choices in their life. It’s more interesting to interact with them.'"
In January 2011, Osgood was named a semi-finalist for the position of Dean of the Boston College Law School.
Personal life
Osgood is married, with four grown children and three dogs.Students, staff, and faculty report seeing him jogging at ungodly hours in short, red swimsuits.
"I have about 15 pairs of bathing suits," Osgood said, "About half of them are red. I don’t know why I have 15. If you see me around my house at night, you’ll see me wearing them. I just wear them as shorts. Not just for running purposes—I wear them when I fly on planes.”
Books by Russell K. Osgood
Cases and Materials on Employee Benefits. with Peter J. Wiedenbeck, Washington University School of Law in St. LouisThe Law in Massachusetts. The Supreme Judicial Court 1692-1992, Editor and Contributor, 1992, Supreme Judicial Court Historical Society
The Law of Pensions and Profit-Sharing. Qualified Retirement Plans and Other Deferred Compensation Arrangements (1984, Little Brown) with Supplements.