M. Richard Rose

Merle Richard Rose (born 1933) was an American academic. He was the tenth president of Alfred University from 1974 until 1978, when he left to become the seventh president of the Rochester Institute of Technology from 1979 until 1992.[1][2]

Merle Richard Rose
10th President of the Alfred University
In office 1974–1978
Preceded by	Leland W. Miles
Succeeded by	S. Gene Odle
7th President of the Rochester Institute of Technology
In office 1979–1992
Preceded by	Paul A. Miller
Succeeded by	Albert J. Simone
Personal details
Born	March 6, 1933 Fredonia, Pennsylvania
Nationality	American
Spouse(s)	Clarice Ratzlaff
Children	Scott Rose Eric Rose Craig Rose
Alma mater	Slippery Rock State College Westminster College University of Pittsburgh
Profession	Administrator

About

He was born in Fredonia, Pennsylvania in 1933.[3] Rose earned a bachelor's degree from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania in 1955, a master's degree in Counseling from Westminster College, Pennsylvania, and a PhD in Higher Education Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. Rose married Clarice Ratzlaff and raised three sons.

He served briefly in the United States Marine Corps as a platoon leader and as a schoolteacher, eventually leaving to become a Professor of Education and Assistant Provost at the University of Pittsburgh from 1962–1972.[3] He was appointed a Deputy Assistant U.S. Secretary of Defense for Education in 1972.[3] In the same year of 1972, Rose published An Educational Road Map to Human Goal Fulfillment. In 1975, he wrote, Educating the American Military Officer. The System and Its Challenges: An Overview'.'[4]

Rose is a Trustee Emeriti at Roberts Wesleyan College, a private Christian liberal arts college in New York state.[5]

Alfred University

Rose became president at Alfred University in 1974,[6] and served until 1978. He came into his tenure at Alfred University with a shrinking applicant pool with the national economy in a recession and inflation threatening private institutions. Edward G. Coll, Jr, the twelfth President of Alfred University, described Rose's tenure as bold, in the face of this economic crisis. During this time academic programming was not cut and admissions standards were kept high in order to stay competitive with the nation's leading institutions.[6]

Rose was quoted as saying, "Alfred University has a proud heritage, one not built on size. I do not believe the future of our institution rests in number of students, but rather on quality."[7]

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rose was the seventh president of the Rochester Institute of Technology from 1979 until 1992.[1][2] Under Rose's leadership, RIT incorporated Eisenhower College in 1979 and expanded liberal arts and humanities programs. The first PhD program in imaging science was launched during his tenure in 1988. In 1990, RIT paired with the University of Cape Town to offer a joint business management education program for black, Indian and mixed race students, aimed at reducing the racial divide in South Africa under the Government's apartheid policy.[8]

In 1991, Rose touched off a firestorm of controversy by allegedly accepting a covert position working for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) at its headquarters in Langley, Virginia, while simultaneously serving as RIT President.[2] The resulting outcry and investigations by the local paper effectively ended his career at RIT, and he resigned, ending his presidency at the close of the 1991–1992 school year.[9][10]

In 1998, Rose was inducted into the RIT Athletic Hall of Fame. He is honored for his distinguished service. His dedication describes: "With Rose’s encouragement in the 1980’s, RIT intercollegiate athletics steadily gained national prominence.... RIT virtually transformed its athletics program from one that seldom saw national championship play to one where NCAA appearances became commonplace in such sports as hockey, soccer, lacrosse, basketball, volleyball, wrestling, cross country and swimming."[11]

See also

References

1. "New RIT head was tough-minded at Alfred U". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. September 19, 1978. p. 1B.
2. Glaberson, William (1991-06-20). "College's C.I.A. Links Cause Furor, and Soul-Searching". The New York Times. New York: The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2019-05-20.
3. "Guide to the M. Richard Rose papers". RIT Archives Collection. Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Retrieved 2019-05-21.
4. "M. Richard Rose". WorldCat Identities. OCLC. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
5. "Board of Trustees 07-08". Roberts Wesleyan College. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
6. Maeroff, Gene I. (1977-07-27). "About Education". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-05-21.
7. Coll, Edward G. (1990). A Tradition of Distinction: Alfred University 1836-1991. New York: The Newcomen Society. p. 19.
8. Marriott, Michel (1990-02-28). "EDUCATION; U.S. and Cape Town Team Up to Train Managers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-05-21.
9. "RIT chief cites CIA ties in his decision to retire". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. September 4, 1991. p. 1A.
10. "RIT picks its next president". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. May 19, 1992. p. 1A.
11. "Dr. M. Richard Rose". RIT Athletics- Hall of Fame. Rochester Institute of Technology. Retrieved 26 March 2015.

External links

• Herrick Memorial Library Special Collections at Alfred University on M. Richard Rose
• RIT Archives' collection on M. Richard Rose
• "RIT's Presidential History", by Michael Saffran; Number 11, Volume 39, March 2007 issue of RIT News & Events