Robert Parks

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W. Robert Parks (1915 - 2003) was the 11^th president of Iowa State University.

Education:

B.A. political science Berea College, Kentucky (1937)
M.A. political science University of Kentucky (1938)
PhD political science University of Wisconsin (1945)

Achievements:

Research & administration with the Bureau of Agricultural Economics (1940 - 1948)
Lieutenant of the United States Navy during World War II
Professor of government at ISU (1948 - 1956)
Professor of agricultural economics at University of Wisconsin (1956 - 1958)
Dean of Instruction at ISU (1958 - 1961)
Vice President of Academic Affairs (1961 - 1965)
11^th president of ISU from 1965 to 1986
- Head of National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges
- Head of Association of American Universities
- Head of Council of Presidents
- Head of Mid-American State Universities Association
- Head of Association of Iowa College Presidents
- Member of the board of trustees of the Teachers Insurance and Annuities-College Retirement Equities Fund
- On board of directors of Norwestern Bell
- On board of directors of Central Life Assurance
Honorary doctorate from Bear College (1966)
Honorary doctorate from Westmar College (1968)
Honorary doctorate from Drake University (1968)
Named honorary alumnus of ISU (1969)
Honorary doctorate from University of Kentucky (1973)
Library named W. Robert and Ellen Sorge Parks Library (1984)
Received the first Christian Petersen Design Award for his leadership in establishing the College of Design

He married Ellen Sorge (1914 - 1999) and had two daughters: Andrea (Van Howeling) and Cynthia (Hamilton). Ellen was the first woman to receive a PhD in political science from the University of Wisconsin.