Robert R. Smith, President of San Francisco State College, 1968

Robert R. Smith: President (1968). With the sudden departure of Dr. John Summerskill, the Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Robert R. Smith President in May 1968. Dr. Smith was a Professor of Education, who had been at the College since 1949. He had served at one time as the Dean of Instruction, as well as Chairman of the Division of Education. Dr. Smith received his B.A. in Social Science and English from Northern Illinois State University, and his Master's degree and doctorate from Stanford University. (His doctorate in education was awarded in 1951). From 1946-1948, he was a public-school teacher. Dr. Smith's tenure as chief executive was a tumultuous one. He came into office during a highly troubled time of student protest, when the longest collegiate strike in the nation's history was beginning. In November 1968, he resigned the post as San Francisco State's President and returned to teaching. He retired in 1980 and died in 2003.

Credits: Robert Smith's bio was provided by Meredith Eliassen.