Background
Robison, Olin Clyde was born on May 12, 1936 in Anacoco, Louisiana, United States.
college president Political science educator
Robison, Olin Clyde was born on May 12, 1936 in Anacoco, Louisiana, United States.
Bachelor, Baylor University, 1958. Doctor of Laws, Baylor University, 1979. Doctor of Philosophy, Oxford University, England, 1963.
Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Ehrenburger-Johannes Gutenberb University, Mainz, Federal Republic Germany, 1977. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Monterey Institute International Studies, 1982. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Hofstra U, 1988.
Doctor of Laws (honorary), University Vermont, 1989. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Middlebury College, 2000.
From Oxford in 1963. He held various positions in the Johnson administration, namely in the Peace Corps and Department of State. He later served as provost at Bowdoin College before being elected president of Middlebury. A personal and professional interest for Doctor Robison was the Soviet Union and its political relations with the United States.
He participated in numerous trips sponsored by the State Department and non-governmental organizations to Moscow and environs.
Robison"s tenure at Middlebury saw growth in student enrollment and physical infrastructure, and the conversion of fraternities to less exclusive "social houses." He also reinvigorated Middlebury"s international reputation through expansion of language teaching and the recruitment of foreign-national students, particularly from the former Soviet Union and East European countries. During his 15-year tenure, he also promoted faculty tenure opportunities through salary increases for research on campus and external locations.
He was well regarded for his fundraising capabilities that resulted in significant facilities renovations including the Arts Center. As part of his national and international outreach, he hosted the Dalai Lama on campus in 1985.
Following retirement in 1990, Robison continued to teach before serving as the eighth president of the Salzburg Global Seminar, a non-profit organization based in Salzburg, Austria whose mission is to challenge current and future leaders to develop creative ideas for solving global problems.
Robison retired from his position as president and chief executive officer of the Seminar in 2005. Robison is a Director of American Shared Hospital Services, The Investment Company of America, American Mutual Fund and AMCAP (all of the American Funds Group) and has served on the Council (Board) of the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London. He is a frequent commentator on Vermont Public Radio.
Board directors Atlantic Information Center for Teachers, London, 1970-1977, American Committee on United States-Soviet Relations, Washington. Chairman Vermont committee Rhodes Scholarship Trust, 1976-1977. Board directors American Council Young Political Leaders, 1968-1978, 81-90, Institute East-West Security Studies, New York City, National Spinal Cord Injury Association, Washington, Atlantic Council United States, 1973-1978, 81-91, United States Commission for United World College Schools.
Member United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, 1978-1983, chairman, 1978-1981, visiting communications Harvard Division School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1980-1986, advisory communications Harvard University, Ctr for Middle Eastern Studies, Cambridge, 1992-1996. Adviser United States delegate Conference on Security and Cooperative in Europe, Belgrade, 1977-1978. United States delegate Conference on Security and Cooperative in Madrid, 1980, in Vienna, 1986-1987.
Board directors National Endowment for Democracy, 1984-1992. Board directors, chairman Chatham House Foundation, 1985-1993. Member International Institute Strategic Studies (London), Society Values in Higher Education, Council Foreign Relations, Royal Institute International Affairs (board directors since 2000).
Clubs: Federal City (Washington). Century (New York City). United Oxford and Cambridge (London).
Son of Audrey Clyde and Ruby (Cantrell) R. Divorced; children: Gordon Reece, Blake Elliott, Mark Edward.