Ronald Roskens
President of the University of Nebraska System
In office
1977–1989
Preceded byDurward B. Varner
Succeeded byMartin Massengale
Personal details
Born(1932-12-11)December 11, 1932
Spencer, Iowa, U.S.
DiedFebruary 27, 2022(2022-02-27) (aged 89)
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Political partyRepublican[1]
Alma materUniversity of Iowa
University of Northern Iowa
OccupationBusinessman, university administrator

Ronald William Roskens (December 11, 1932 – February 27, 2022) was an American academic. He was the president of the University of Nebraska System from 1977 to 1989.[2] Roskens was a member and past National President of Sigma Tau Gamma.[3] He served as Administrator of USAID from 1990 to 1992. Ronald W. and Lois G. Roskens Hall, finished in Fall 2011, located on the campus of University of Nebraska Omaha, is named after the Roskens.[4][5]

Early life and education

Roskens was born to father William Roskens and mother Delores Roskens on a farm near Spencer, Iowa in 1932. In 1950, he graduated from Spencer High School.[6] He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1953, where he received a B.A. He taught for one year at the high school in Milburn, Iowa before going to University of Iowa to receive his M.A. in 1955.[7]

Career

From 1956 to 1959, Roskens was the Assistant Dean of Men at University of Iowa. In 1959, he received his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa and moved to Kent, Ohio where he became the Dean of Men at Kent State University in 1959.[8] Roskens worked there for the next thirteen years. He was Professor of Educational Administration and Executive Vice President for Administration at the time of the 1970 Kent State shootings.[9]

Roskens became Chancellor of the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) in 1972, a position he held until 1977, when he became president of the University of Nebraska system for the next twelve years.[10] UNO honored Roskens with the Order of the Tower award, the university's highest non-academic award, at the spring 2009 commencement ceremony.[11] He served as Administrator of USAID from 1990 to 1992 during the presidential administration of George H. W. Bush.

Personal life

After dating for two years, Roskens married Lois Lister on August 22, 1954.[12] They had four children: Elizabeth, Barbara, William and Brenda. After retiring, Roskens and his wife lived in Bennington, Nebraska.[13] He died on February 27, 2022, at the age of 89.[14]

References

  1. ↑ "Ronald W. Roskens".
  2. ↑ "Dr. Ronald W. Roskens". digital.omahapubliclibrary.org. Archived from the original on 2014-04-07.
  3. ↑ "Past National Presidents". Sigma Tau Gamma. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  4. ↑ Wunder, Michael (2011-09-27). "Roskens Hall dedication sparkles". The Gateway. Vol. 12, no. 10. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  5. ↑ "Faculty reflect on Roskens". digital.olivesoftware.com. Retrieved 2019-02-08.
  6. ↑ Krajicek, David (October 22, 1975). "He's that kind of guy". digital.olivesoftware.com. Retrieved 2019-02-08.
  7. ↑ Thompson, Tommy R. (1983). A History of the University of Nebraska at Omaha 1908-1983. Dallas, TX: Taylor Publishing Co. p. 142.
  8. ↑ Thompson, Tommy R. (1983). A History of the University of Nebraska at Omaha 1908-1983. Dallas, TX: Taylor Publishing Co. p. 142.
  9. ↑ "Reflections in Time: Interview with Ronald Roskens, 1985 | University of Nebraska Consortium of Libraries ArchivesSpace". archives.nebraska.edu. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  10. ↑ Despins, Kim (1993-01-15). "Regents favor outside candidate for post". The Gateway. Vol. 92, no. 31. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  11. ↑ Maharisi, Jasmine (2009-06-09). "Large graduating class looks back on college years at spring commencement". The Gateway. Vol. 8, no. 55. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  12. ↑ "Reflections in Time: Interview with Ronald Roskens, 1985 | University of Nebraska Consortium of Libraries ArchivesSpace". archives.nebraska.edu. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  13. ↑ "Former NU president Ron Roskens shares fond memories of his time with George H.W. Bush". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
  14. ↑ "Ronald Roskens, NU's longest serving president and former UNO chancellor, dies at 89". Omaha World-Herald. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
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