Robert Kibbee

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Robert Kibbee
Born(1921-08-19)August 19, 1921
Staten Island, New York, U.S.
DiedJune 16, 1982(1982-06-16) (aged 60)
Alma materFordham University (BA)
University of Chicago (MA, PhD)
EmployerCity University of New York
TitleChancellor
Parents
RelativesMilton Kibbee (uncle),
Lois Kibbee (cousin)

Robert Joseph Kibbee (August 19, 1921 – June 16, 1982) was an American university administrator who was Chancellor of the City University of New York.

Biography[edit]

Kibbee was born on Staten Island, New York.[1] His father was Hollywood actor Guy Kibbee and his mother was Helen Shay Kibbee; his parents separated when he was a young boy.[2][3][4] He attended Xavier High School in Manhattan, New York, and earned a bachelor's degree at Fordham University in 1943.[1][2][4]

After serving in World War II in the Philippines from 1940 to 1945, Kibbee earned a master's degree in higher education administration from the University of Chicago in 1947, and a doctorate there in 1957.[4][1][2] He was then administrative dean at Southern State College, and in 1955 became dean of students at Drake University.[5][2] From 1958 to 1961 he worked for the University of Chicago as an educational advisor in Pakistan.[2] Kibbee then served as assistant to President John Warner and as vice president for planning and administration at Carnegie-Mellon University, and as President of the Pittsburgh Board of Education.[1][2][4]

Kibbee was Chancellor of the City University of New York, the third-largest university in the United States, from 1971 to 1982.[1][6][3] During that time CUNY transitioned to open admissions.[1]

He was married first to Katherine Kirk, and then in 1980 to Margaret Rockwitz.[3]

Kibbee had cranial surgery to remove a tumor, and died on June 16, 1982, two weeks before his scheduled retirement, at 60 years of age.[1][2][3] The library at Kingsborough Community College is named after him.[7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Former Chancellors".
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Picciano, Anthony G.; Jordan, Chet (2017). CUNY's First Fifty Years: Triumphs and Ordeals of a People's University. Routledge. ISBN 9781351982146 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b c d Maeroff, Gene I. (June 18, 1982). "Robert J. Kibbee, Chancellor of City University for More Than; a Decade, Dies at 60". The New York Times.
  4. ^ a b c d Kibbee, Robert Joseph (July 28, 1971). "Robert Joseph Kibbee: 'Demilitarizer' of the Campus". The New York Times.
  5. ^ The Higher Learning Commission. A New President, New Faculty, and Accreditation of SSC. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  6. ^ Parmet, Robert D. (2011). Town and Gown: The Fight for Social Justice, Urban Rebirth, and Higher Education. Lexington Books. ISBN 9781611474732 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ "Robert J. Kibbee Library -- City University of New York". librarytechnology.org.

External links[edit]