The Reverend Dr. Guy Potter Wharton Benton was an American educator who served as president of Miami University from 1902-1911, the University of Vermont from 1911-1920, and the University of the Philippines from 1921-1925.

He is credited with being instrumental in the founding of the sorority Delta Zeta at Miami University in 1902. Benton was an alumnus of Ohio Normal University (now Ohio Northern University), Ohio Wesleyan University, Baker University and the College of Wooster.

Liberty Hyde Bailey was born in a small house in the woods on March 15, 1858 near south Haven, Michigan. He attended Michigan Agricultural College (or MAC, now known as Michigan State University) and began his studies in horticulture botany, cultivated plants. Shortly after graduating, Bailey returned to his alma mater to chair the nation’s first department of Horticulture and Landscape Gardening. Through the developing and publishing of his belief of the importance of understanding plants in gardens and those in farmer’s fields, he began to cement his reputation as the Father of Modern Horticulture.

Two years later, Bailey accepted a position at Cornell University. He continued to develop horticultural as well as his interests in agricultural education. Through his and the university’s efforts to expand education beyond university walls, the Morrill Act was passed which established the land-grant system to provide colleges devoted to the “practical arts” as well as the liberal arts in every state. To aid extension, Bailey served as director of the New York State Experiment Station at Cornell for many years. He became the natural candidate for president of the Association of American Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations. After his term, President Roosevelt appointed Bailey the national chair of commission on country-life. Through his service with the Commission he also maintained his position as dean of the College of Agriculture at Cornell.

Dr. Thomas Carpenter was the founding President of The University of North Florida from 1969 to 1980 and then served as the President of Memphis State University, also known as University of Memphis, until his retirement in 1991.

John Wesley Cline attended Harvard Medical School where he received his M.D. in 1925 after receiving his A.B. from University of California in 1921. He then practiced in San Francisco, California for a number of years where he was a part of many medical associations. Most notably, Dr. Cline was the President of the American Medical Association from 1951-1952.

John Robinson Conniff, Sr. was an educator from New Orleans, Louisiana, who served from 1926 to 1928 as the seventh president of Louisiana Tech University in Ruston in Lincoln Parish in North Louisiana.

Carey Croneis had a distinguished career in Geology at the University of Chicago before taking presidency of Beloit College in 1944, during the last year of World War II. Carey Croneis recruited a young faculty to meet the demands of a growing student body and an expanding curriculum. Genial in his personal relationships, the President had a particular affection for each incoming class, and annually composed a poem in celebration of each addition to the corpus of the college.

Dr. Croneis presided proudly over the year-long festivities celebrating the Centennial of the College, 1946-1947, and he embellished the campus with needed facilities: the Field House, and new women’s dormitories: Centennial (now Aldrich) and Maurer Halls, as well as with several fraternity and sorority houses. The College’s reputation grew widespread through its enhanced role in Anthropology, Athletics, Art, the Theatre, as well as through expanded work in the sciences and the humanities.

In the Croneis years Beloit College reached the level of the largest student body it had ever known in its more than century-long life. Resigning in December of 1953, in the following year Dr. Croneis went to Rice University as Harry Carruthers Weiss Professor of Geology to create an outstanding department in that discipline.

James Daughdrill became president of Rhodes College in 1973 to 1999, a time when the college was struggling financially. While Daughdrill was President, he aided into he growth of the student body from 980 students to 1,450 students. The college endowment skyrocketed to $200 from $6 million, all while maintaining a balanced budget. Daughdrill was instrumental in changing the college’s name from Southwestern at Memphis to its current be Rhodes College, to honor former college president Peyton Nalle Rhodes.

Gregory is the current President of Rider University in New Jersey.

Gregory Dell’Omo was the President of Robert Morris University for ten years (2005 – 2015) and sought to bolster RMU’s academic reputation. During his tenure the university has strengthened its honors program and placed an increasing emphasis on international education.

Among the accreditations and honors that RMU has added since 2005 is AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, a distinction enjoyed by only five percent of business schools worldwide. RMU is also one of only 25 institutions worldwide to be named a Center of Actuarial Excellence for its actuarial science program.

Dr. Donald E. Demkee was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at The University of Akron. Post graduate school, Don served as Captain in the United States Air Force and Air Force Reserve. Dr. Don established the Oral – Facial Surgery Centre in multiple cities in Ohio. He fully retired from dentistry in 2003.

Despite his demanding professional schedule, Dr. Demkee volunteered his services to numerous professional and community organizations at the local, state and regional and national levels during his career. He is past president of the Ohio State Dental Board, former chairman of the American Dental Association’s Council on Dental Education and Licensure, member of the Northeast Regional Board of Dental Examiners and life member of the American Association of Dental Examiners.

The Honorable Robert Duncan was named Chancellor at Texas Tech University in July 2014.

Duncan, 60, is a lifelong West Texan. Before calling Lubbock home, he was raised in Vernon, Texas. He is the only son of five children born to Frank L. Duncan and Robena Formby Duncan.

While completing his undergraduate degree at Texas Tech University, he served as student body president. Duncan went on to receive his law degree from the Texas Tech University School of Law.

He was elected to District 84 in the Texas House of Representatives in 1992. In 1996, he won a special election to the Texas Senate. During his more than two decades in the Texas Legislature, Duncan crafted major legislation impacting water rights; health care transparency and affordability; the integrity of public investment funds; public and higher education; eminent domain; and the efficiency and effectiveness of our civil justice system.

Duncan served on the Senate Finance Committee during each legislative session since 1999. He also served on the budget conference committee, which develops the final appropriations bill.

Duncan has served as chairman of the State Affairs Committee since 2004. He was elected and served as president pro tempore of the Texas Senate during the 81st Legislative Session. Duncan also has been a member of the Natural Resources Committee, the Committee on Higher Education and the Education Committee.

Duncan’s efforts in the Texas Senate have been highlighted by honors based on his work ethic, legislative accomplishments and leadership. Texas Monthly frequently has named him among the state’s 10 best legislators. It also has listed him as a “Texas Super Lawyer” for his professional reputation in the private sector as a partner at Crenshaw, Dupree and Milam in Lubbock.