Records of the President, Werner A. Baum (Rec. Gr. 1.11)

Biographical/Historical Note

Werner A. Baum was born in Germany on April 10, 1923 and became a naturalized citizen in 1934. Baum was the seventh president of the University of Rhode Island, serving from July 5, 1968 to August 14, 1973. He earned all of his academic degrees from the University of Chicago; a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 1943, a Master of Science degree in Meteorology in 1944, and a doctorate in Meteorology in 1948.

Baum came to the presidency of the University of Rhode Island after a distinguished career in government and academic service. From 1947 to 1949 he was an Assistant Professor of Geography at the University of Maryland. In 1949 he began a fourteen year sojourn at Florida State University with an appointment as an Associate Professor and Chairman of the Department of Meteorology. He remained as department chair until 1958 when he was appointed Dean of the Graduate School and Director of Research. In 1960 he was named Florida State's Dean of the Faculties.

Three years later Baum left Florida State University to assume the position of Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculties at the University of Miami, Florida. From there he went to New York University as Vice-President for Scientific Affairs and Professor of Meteorology. After two years in New York, Baum was appointed by President Lyndon Johnson as the Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Science Services Administration. He assumed the presidency of the University of Rhode Island on July 5, 1968, succeeding Acting President F. Don James who had left to become president of Southern Connecticut State College.