Robert L. Ketter
Born: 1928Death: 1989
A member of the university faculty since 1958, Robert L. Ketter served as the first chairman of the Department of Civil Engineering, Dean of the Graduate School, and the Vice President for Facilities Planning. During his tenure as President (1970-1982), he oversaw the construction of the new campus, strengthened the university’s research programs, and initiated international programs in Korea, Japan, and China. From October 1976 to February 1977, Ketter took a leave of absence from the presidency to conduct two projects for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and to continue co-writing a two-volume textbook on structural engineering. During his absence, Executive Vice President Albert Somit served as acting president of UB.
He was the founder and first director of the university’s Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research. Robert L. Ketter Hall, home of the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, was dedicated in his honor in 1987. In 1988 Ketter was named SUNY Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering by the SUNY Board of Trustees.
Affiliation(s): President/Chancellor, Engineering and Applied Sciences
Record Group(s): 4, 18
Biographical File Contains:
- Obituary
- Photographs