M. Richard Rose
Rose, c. 1988
10th President of
Alfred University
In office
1974–1978
Preceded byLeland W. Miles
Succeeded byS. Gene Odle
7th President of the
Rochester Institute of Technology
In office
1979–1992
Preceded byPaul A. Miller
Succeeded byAlbert J. Simone
Personal details
Born
Merle Richard Rose

(1933-03-06)March 6, 1933
Fredonia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedApril 10, 2021(2021-04-10) (aged 88)
Brooksville, Florida, U.S.
SpouseClarice Ratzlaff
Children3
Alma mater
Profession
Signature
Military career
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Marine Corps (1955–1959)
United States Marine Corps Reserve (1962–1986)
Years of service1955–1959, 1962–1986
RankColonel

Merle Richard Rose (March 6, 1933 – April 10, 2021) 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]

Early life

Merle Richard Rose was born in Fredonia, Pennsylvania on March 6, 1933.[3][4] Rose earned a bachelor's degree from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania in 1955, a master's degree in counseling from Westminster College and a Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Pittsburgh.[3][4][5]

Career

He served in the United States Marine Corps as a colonel, serving in active duty from 1955 to 1959 and in active reserves from 1962 to 1986.[3][4] He was also a schoolteacher at the Lakeview School District in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, eventually leaving to become a professor of education and assistant provost at the University of Pittsburgh from 1962 to 1972.[4] He was appointed a Deputy Assistant U.S. Secretary of Defense for Education in 1972.[4] 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'.'[6]

Alfred University

Rose became president at Alfred University in 1974,[7] 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.[7]

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."[8]

Rose circa 1978

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 1990.[5] 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.[9]

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.[10][11]

In 1998, Rose was inducted into the RIT Athletic Hall of Fame. He is honored for his distinguished service to the university. 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."[12]

Later career

Rose was a Trustee Emeriti at Roberts Wesleyan College, a private Christian liberal arts college in New York state.[13] He was also a trustee of the U.S. Air Force University.[3]

Personal life

He was married to Clarice Ratzlaff for 65 years. Together, they had three sons: Scott, Eric, and Craig.[3][5]

Death

Rose died on April 10, 2021, at his home in Brooksville, Florida.[3][5]

References

  1. 1 2 "New RIT head was tough-minded at Alfred U". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. September 19, 1978. p. 1B.
  2. 1 2 3 Glaberson, William (June 20, 1991). "College's C.I.A. Links Cause Furor, and Soul-Searching". The New York Times. New York. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Dr. M. Richard Rose". merrittfuneral.com. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Guide to the M. Richard Rose papers". RIT Archives Collection. Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Finnerty, Bob; McGrain, Vienna (April 12, 2021). "RIT remembers President Emeritus M. Richard Rose". rit.edu. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  6. ↑ "M. Richard Rose". WorldCat Identities. OCLC. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  7. 1 2 Maeroff, Gene I. (July 27, 1977). "About Education". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  8. ↑ Coll, Edward G. (1990). A Tradition of Distinction: Alfred University 1836-1991. New York: The Newcomen Society. p. 19.
  9. ↑ Marriott, Michel (February 28, 1990). "EDUCATION; U.S. and Cape Town Team Up to Train Managers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  10. ↑ "RIT chief cites CIA ties in his decision to retire". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. September 4, 1991. p. 1A.
  11. ↑ "RIT picks its next president". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. May 19, 1992. p. 1A.
  12. ↑ "Dr. M. Richard Rose". RIT Athletics- Hall of Fame. Rochester Institute of Technology. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Board of Trustees 07-08". Roberts Wesleyan College. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
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