Robert O. Schulze
The Man and His Legacy
R obert O. Schulze (born in 1922) earned both his bachelors and doctorate degrees in Sociology from University of Michigan. His M.A. was granted by Colombia University. He spent the years between 1955 and 1969 at Brown University and served as the Dean of the College between 1964 and 1969. In a time characterized by conflict between students and administrators, students at Brown dubbed Schulze “The Good Dean.” At the behest of Thomas J. Watson of IBM, Schulze agreed to leave Brown to direct The Watson Foundation, which provides fellowships to promising students to study abroad. In 1972, Robert Schulze came to University of Northern Colorado as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Sociology. He remained at University of Northern Colorado until his retirement in 1987.
Bob Schulze was known and loved for his remarkable wit, his buoyant and infectious sense of humor, his outstanding writing and communication skills and his passion for academic life and liberal ideals. He was a particular inspiration to the very large number of faculty and departments he led. While at University of Northern Colorado, he clearly demonstrated his conviction regarding the importance of interdisciplinary work. He was instrumental in starting academic programs in Environmental Studies, Women’s Studies, Black Studies and the Life of the Mind Program (an interdisciplinary general education program, recognized as a Center of Excellence by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education).