Roland W. Schmitt

Roland Walter Schmitt is a physicist, business executive and the nineteenth 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). ["Schmitt, Roland Walter", "Who'sWho in Science and Engineering", 2003, page 1136.]

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. [http://www.nystar.state.ny.us/board/schmitt.htm Dr. Roland W. Schmitt] ] 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. [ [http://www.bcnys.org/whatsnew/2001/0824rws.htm The Business Council of New York State, Inc.] ] In 1982, he was appointed senior vice president. ["Corporate Title Given G.E. Scientist", "New York Times", June 3, 1982, page D2]

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. [ [http://www.rpi.edu/dept/NewsComm/sub/fame/inductees/rolandschmitt.html Rensselaer Hall of Fame Inductee] ] 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. [ [http://www.nae.edu/NAE/awardscom.nsf/weblinks/LRAO-5U7SB4?OpenDocument Previous Recipients of the Arthur M. Bueche Award] ] He is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and the 1992 recipient of the IEEE Founders Medal. [ [http://www.ieee.org/portal/pages/about/awards/pr/founderspr.html IEEE Founders Medal Recipients] ] 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.

s-start s-aca s-bef|before=Stanley I. Landgraf s-ttl|title=President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute|years=1988 – 1993 s-aft|after=R. Byron Pipes end

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