Robben Wright Fleming
Encyclopedia
Robben Wright Fleming was the President of Wisconsin-Madison from 1964 to 1967, and the University of Michigan
from 1968 to 1978.
on December 18, 1916. In 1934, he received a B.A.
from Beloit College
, and an LLB from the Law School at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1941.
He worked for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the War Labor Board. During the Second World War, he served as a Captain in North Africa and Europe for six years. In 1947, he served as the head of the Industrial Relations Center in Wisconsin. In 1952, he became Assistant Professor and Director of the Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations at the University of Illinois. In 1958, he became a Professor of Law at Illinois.
In 1964, he became the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he helped assuage student protests in 1964. He also expanded university projects in Nigeria
, France, Germany and Japan. In 1967, he paid the bail for students who had been arrested for blockading a university building. In 1968, he became the ninth President of the University of Michigan
. He led discussions during the Black Action Movement strike, with students demanding more African-American students on campus. He also helped turn the campuses at Dearborn
and Flint
into four-year institutions. He stepped down as President in 1978. From 1979 to 1981, he worked for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
. In 1981, he became a full Professor at the U-M. In 1988, he served again as interim President of the U-M, tackling concerns over racial, sexual and gay-lesbian discrimination, to no avail. From 1985 to 1990, he worked as a representative for Michigan Governor James Blanchard
.
He died in Ann Arbor, Michigan
in January 2010.
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1968 to 1978.
Biography
He was born in Paw Paw, IllinoisPaw Paw, Illinois
Paw Paw is a village in Lee County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census the village was home to 870 people, up from 852 at the 2000 census. It was settled in the mid 19th century and by 1878 the village had a railroad connection. Paw Paw is home to a house which is listed on the U.S...
on December 18, 1916. In 1934, he received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Beloit College
Beloit College
Beloit College is a liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin, USA. It is a member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, and has an enrollment of roughly 1,300 undergraduate students. Beloit is the oldest continuously operated college in Wisconsin, and has the oldest building of any college...
, and an LLB from the Law School at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1941.
He worked for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the War Labor Board. During the Second World War, he served as a Captain in North Africa and Europe for six years. In 1947, he served as the head of the Industrial Relations Center in Wisconsin. In 1952, he became Assistant Professor and Director of the Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations at the University of Illinois. In 1958, he became a Professor of Law at Illinois.
In 1964, he became the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he helped assuage student protests in 1964. He also expanded university projects in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, France, Germany and Japan. In 1967, he paid the bail for students who had been arrested for blockading a university building. In 1968, he became the ninth President of the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. He led discussions during the Black Action Movement strike, with students demanding more African-American students on campus. He also helped turn the campuses at Dearborn
Dearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
and Flint
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
into four-year institutions. He stepped down as President in 1978. From 1979 to 1981, he worked for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a non-profit corporation created by an act of the United States Congress, funded by the United States’ federal government to promote public broadcasting...
. In 1981, he became a full Professor at the U-M. In 1988, he served again as interim President of the U-M, tackling concerns over racial, sexual and gay-lesbian discrimination, to no avail. From 1985 to 1990, he worked as a representative for Michigan Governor James Blanchard
James Blanchard
James Johnston "Jim" Blanchard is a politician from the US state of Michigan. A Democrat, Blanchard has served in the United States House of Representatives, as the 45th Governor of Michigan, and as United States Ambassador to Canada....
.
He died in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
in January 2010.
External links
- Robben Fleming on Arborwiki, a city wiki for Ann Arbor, MI
- President (University of Michigan) records 1967-, Bentley Historical LibraryBentley Historical LibraryThe Bentley Historical Library is a historical library located on the University of Michigan's North Campus in Ann Arbor. It was established in 1935 by the regents of the University of Michigan...
, University of Michigan