Robert Parks
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W. Robert Parks (1915 - 2003) was the 11th president of Iowa State University.
Education:
- B.A. political science Berea College, Kentucky (1937)
- M.A. political science University of Kentucky (1938)
- PhD political science University of Wisconsin (1945)
Achievements:
- Research & administration with the Bureau of Agricultural Economics (1940 - 1948)
- Lieutenant of the United States Navy during World War II
- Professor of government at ISU (1948 - 1956)
- Professor of agricultural economics at University of Wisconsin (1956 - 1958)
- Dean of Instruction at ISU (1958 - 1961)
- Vice President of Academic Affairs (1961 - 1965)
- 11th president of ISU from 1965 to 1986
- Head of National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges
- Head of Association of American Universities
- Head of Council of Presidents
- Head of Mid-American State Universities Association
- Head of Association of Iowa College Presidents
- Member of the board of trustees of the Teachers Insurance and Annuities-College Retirement Equities Fund
- On board of directors of Norwestern Bell
- On board of directors of Central Life Assurance
- Honorary doctorate from Bear College (1966)
- Honorary doctorate from Westmar College (1968)
- Honorary doctorate from Drake University (1968)
- Named honorary alumnus of ISU (1969)
- Honorary doctorate from University of Kentucky (1973)
- Library named W. Robert and Ellen Sorge Parks Library (1984)
- Received the first Christian Petersen Design Award for his leadership in establishing the College of Design
He married Ellen Sorge (1914 - 1999) and had two daughters: Andrea (Van Howeling) and Cynthia (Hamilton). Ellen was the first woman to receive a PhD in political science from the University of Wisconsin.
[edit] References
- W. Robert Parks Papers, RS 2/11, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.
