Robert Skotheim

Robert Allen Skotheim (born January 31, 1933)^[1] is an American educator who has served as president of several colleges and institutions.

Robert Skotheim
14th President of Occidental College
In office 2008–2009
Preceded by	Susan Westerberg Prager
Succeeded by	Jonathan Veitch
10th President of Whitman College
In office 1975–1988
Preceded by	Donald Sheehan
Succeeded by	David Evans Maxwell
Personal details
Born	(1933-01-31) January 31, 1933 (age 92) Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Spouse	Nadine Esther Vail ​ (m. 1953)​
Children	3
Alma mater	Princeton University University of Washington (B.A., Ph.D.)
Occupation	College professor and administrator
Known for	Historian of intellectual history

Biography

In 1933, Skotheim was born to Sivert O., an emigrant from Norway, and Marjorie Skotheim, school teachers in West Seattle.^[2] He attended Fauntleroy School and West Seattle High School.^[3] He was educated at Princeton University, graduated with a B.A. in history from the University of Washington, and went on to obtain a Ph.D. from University of Washington Graduate School.^[4] In 1966, he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship and spent a year in France. Afterwards, he taught history at the University of Colorado, Boulder and then became provost of Hobart and William Smith College in Geneva, New York.^[5]

From 1975 to 1988, he served as the 10th president of Whitman College, where he led a $50 million capital campaign to increase the endowment and researched the history of the college.^[6][7][8][9] In 1988, after 12 years at Whitman, he became president at the Huntington Library.^[10] In June 1992, he announced a $4.5 million gift to the library endowment.^[11] On June 30, 2001, he stepped down from the Huntington.^[12]

On January 1, 2008, Skotheim assumed the role of interim president of Occidental College, replacing president Susan Westerberg Prager, who announced her intention to resign in mid-November.^[13][14] During his tenure, Skotheim was one of the oldest college presidents in the nation. On July 1, 2009, Skotheim stepped down and Jonathan Veitch, formerly dean of Eugene Lang College, took the reins.^[15]

Honors and legacy

The Nadine and Robert Skotheim Director of Education at The Huntington is endowed in his honor.^[16][17]

Personal life

On June 14, 1953, Skotheim married Nadine Esther Vail, in Seattle, Washington, and they had three children: Marjorie, Kris and Julie.^[18]

Awards

In 2000, Skotheim was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) degree from Whittier College.^[19]