Roland W. Schmitt
Encyclopedia
Roland Walter Schmitt is a physicist, business executive and was the sixteenth president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
.
He was born on July 24, 1923 in Seguin, Texas
to Walter L. Schmitt and Myrtle F. (Caldwell) Schmitt. On June 2, 1951 he married Alice V. Calhoun (b. February 12, 1930) and they had two sons: Lorenz (b. 1952) and Brian (b. 1954). Alice died on July 17, 1956. He later married Claire F. Kunz (b. 1928) on September 19, 1957; they had two children: Alice (b. 1958) and Henry (b. 1961).
He graduated from the University of Texas with a B.S. in physics and a B.A. in mathematics, both in 1947 and a master's degree in physics in 1948. He received a P.h.D. in physics from Rice University
in 1951. He then joined General Electric
as a research associate and remained with the company until his retirement in 1988. From 1978-1986, he directed the General Electric Research and Development Center in Schenectady, New York
. In 1982, he was appointed senior vice president.
From 1988-1993, he was president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. During his tenure, he oversaw a $200 million fundraising campaign and saw the addition of new degree programs and research centers. He served as a member of the National Science Board
from 1982-1994, and as chairman from 1984-1988. In January 2000, he was appointed by New York State Governor
George Pataki
as chairman of the board of the New York State Office Of Science, Technology and Academic Research. In 1978, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering
and received the Arthur M. Bueche Award from the NAE in 1995. He is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the 1989 recipient of the IEEE Engineering Leadership Recognition Award and the 1992 recipient of the IEEE Founders Medal. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Physical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
.
He was born on July 24, 1923 in Seguin, Texas
Seguin, Texas
Seguin is a city in Guadalupe County, Texas, in the United States. It is part of the San Antonio-New Braunfels Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,011; the July 1, 2009 Census estimate, however, showed the population had increased to 26,842...
to Walter L. Schmitt and Myrtle F. (Caldwell) Schmitt. On June 2, 1951 he married Alice V. Calhoun (b. February 12, 1930) and they had two sons: Lorenz (b. 1952) and Brian (b. 1954). Alice died on July 17, 1956. He later married Claire F. Kunz (b. 1928) on September 19, 1957; they had two children: Alice (b. 1958) and Henry (b. 1961).
He graduated from the University of Texas with a B.S. in physics and a B.A. in mathematics, both in 1947 and a master's degree in physics in 1948. He received a P.h.D. in physics from Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
in 1951. He then joined General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
as a research associate and remained with the company until his retirement in 1988. From 1978-1986, he directed the General Electric Research and Development Center in Schenectady, New York
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
. In 1982, he was appointed senior vice president.
From 1988-1993, he was president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. During his tenure, he oversaw a $200 million fundraising campaign and saw the addition of new degree programs and research centers. He served as a member of the National Science Board
National Science Board
The National Science Board of the United States is composed of 25 members appointed by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate, representing the broad U.S. science and engineering community. The Board establishes the policies of the National Science Foundation within the framework...
from 1982-1994, and as chairman from 1984-1988. In January 2000, he was appointed by New York State Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
George Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
as chairman of the board of the New York State Office Of Science, Technology and Academic Research. In 1978, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
and received the Arthur M. Bueche Award from the NAE in 1995. He is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the 1989 recipient of the IEEE Engineering Leadership Recognition Award and the 1992 recipient of the IEEE Founders Medal. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Physical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.