G. Dennis O'Brien
Encyclopedia
George Dennis O'Brien is an American philosopher who most notably served as the eighth President of the University of Rochester
.
O'Brien was born in Chicago, Illinois to a medical doctor and a nurse. His father was also a medical examiner
and the young O'Brien accompanied him to autopsies he performed at local funeral homes. He attended St. Philip Neri grammar school and Leo Catholic High School
.
O'Brien earned a B.A. in English at Yale University
in 1952 and a Ph.D. in Philosophy at the University of Chicago
in 1961. While in graduate school, he took an instructorship at Princeton University
, where he became assistant professor after graduating. He began his career as administrator when he took on the role of Assistant Dean of the College at Princeton and then moved to Middlebury College
where he took on successively more responsibilities.
In 1976, Bucknell University
tapped O'Brien to become its twelfth president. In 1984, he assumed the presidency of the University of Rochester.
At UR, he introduced several innovations, including the "Take Five" program, the Rochester Conference, which brought high-profile speakers to the River Campus from 1987 to 1990, and a weekly University Day to bring faculty and undergraduates together for interchange of ideas. He also kicked off a major fund-raising campaign to fund more competitive compensation for faculty.
O'Brien also dealt with several controversies, notably the ill-fated idea to raise the possibility of re-naming UR to "Rochester University" or "Eastman Rochester University". In 1987, he had to deal with the fallout from William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration
's rescinding the admission of a Fujifilm
employee to its MBA program after senior Eastman Kodak
officials voiced their concern that they would have to pull their executives out of the same program to prevent the possibility of industrial espionage. O'Brien also divested the University from South Africa after student protests.
After retiring from UR in 1994, he served as chair of the Commonweal Foundation and on the board of LaSalle University. He also served as an accreditation reviewer and chair for several institutions of higher learning in the United States.
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
.
O'Brien was born in Chicago, Illinois to a medical doctor and a nurse. His father was also a medical examiner
Medical examiner
A medical examiner is a medically qualified government officer whose duty is to investigate deaths and injuries that occur under unusual or suspicious circumstances, to perform post-mortem examinations, and in some jurisdictions to initiate inquests....
and the young O'Brien accompanied him to autopsies he performed at local funeral homes. He attended St. Philip Neri grammar school and Leo Catholic High School
Leo Catholic High School
Leo Catholic High School is an all-male Catholic high school in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago and home to a predominantly African–American student body...
.
O'Brien earned a B.A. in English at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1952 and a Ph.D. in Philosophy at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
in 1961. While in graduate school, he took an instructorship at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, where he became assistant professor after graduating. He began his career as administrator when he took on the role of Assistant Dean of the College at Princeton and then moved to Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
where he took on successively more responsibilities.
In 1976, Bucknell University
Bucknell University
Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university located alongside the West Branch Susquehanna River in the rolling countryside of Central Pennsylvania in the town of Lewisburg, 30 miles southeast of Williamsport and 60 miles north of Harrisburg. The university consists of the College of...
tapped O'Brien to become its twelfth president. In 1984, he assumed the presidency of the University of Rochester.
At UR, he introduced several innovations, including the "Take Five" program, the Rochester Conference, which brought high-profile speakers to the River Campus from 1987 to 1990, and a weekly University Day to bring faculty and undergraduates together for interchange of ideas. He also kicked off a major fund-raising campaign to fund more competitive compensation for faculty.
O'Brien also dealt with several controversies, notably the ill-fated idea to raise the possibility of re-naming UR to "Rochester University" or "Eastman Rochester University". In 1987, he had to deal with the fallout from William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration
William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration
The University of Rochester Simon Graduate School of Business is the business school located on the University's River Campus in Rochester, New York. It was renamed after William E. Simon , the 63rd United States Secretary of the Treasury, in 1986...
's rescinding the admission of a Fujifilm
Fujifilm
is a multinational photography and imaging company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.Fujifilm's principal activities are the development, production, sale and servicing of color photographic film, digital cameras, photofinishing equipment, color paper, photofinishing chemicals, medical imaging...
employee to its MBA program after senior Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak Company is a multinational imaging and photographic equipment, materials and services company headquarted in Rochester, New York, United States. It was founded by George Eastman in 1892....
officials voiced their concern that they would have to pull their executives out of the same program to prevent the possibility of industrial espionage. O'Brien also divested the University from South Africa after student protests.
After retiring from UR in 1994, he served as chair of the Commonweal Foundation and on the board of LaSalle University. He also served as an accreditation reviewer and chair for several institutions of higher learning in the United States.