Sidney Ribeau Ph.D. is the outgoing President of Bowling Green State University (near Toledo, Ohio); Ribeau has been named the 16th President of Howard University in Washington, D.C., replacing H. Patrick Swygert.

Education

Ribeau grew up in Detroit and graduated from Mackenzie High School in 1965. Ribeau received his bachelor's degree from Wayne State University in 1971. He earned master's and doctoral degrees in interpersonal communication from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, in 1973 and 1979, respectively.

Career

He began his teaching career in 1976 as a professor of communication studies at California State University, Los Angeles. Eight years later, after being honored as an outstanding teacher and student adviser, he became chair of the university's Pan African Studies Department. He held that position until 1987, when he was named dean of undergraduate studies at California State University, San Bernardino. Three years later, he became dean of the College of Liberal Arts at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo campus. In 1992 he was named vice president for academic affairs at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, a position he held until coming to Bowling Green in 1995.

Bowling Green

Ribeau accepted the presidency of Bowling Green State University in 1995, becoming the college's ninth president. During his presidency Bowling Green created a number of new programs, including the Scholarship of Engagement Initiative, which encouraged collaborative faculty involvement with private and public groups to identify and resolve relevant issues through scholarship. The President's Leadership Academy, begun in 1997, and BGeXperience: Vision and Values, started in 2003, were two others.

In 2003, Ribeau was recognized by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, which presented him with its President's Award for his "courage and leadership in guiding the Bowling Green State University campus community to develop a community focused on student learning and designed to educate the whole student by taking students' personal and intellectual growth into consideration."

Contributions to the BGSU have grown steadily during Ribeau's presidency. Over $74 million already had been donated to Building Dreams: The Centennial Campaign for Bowling Green State University when the fund-raising drive was launched in April (2005).

Family

Ribeau and his wife, Paula Whetsel-Ribeau, are the parents of three children.

Community service

Ribeau serves on Ohio's Higher Education Funding Commission, is a member of the Board of Directors for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and chair of the Inter-University Council of Presidents for 2005-06. A member of the Bowling Green and Toledo Chambers of Commerce, he also serves on the boards of United Way, the Greater Toledo Urban League, the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association-College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF), the Regional Growth Partnership,the Andersons Inc. in Maumee, Convergys Corp., and Worthington Industries.

References

• Bowling Green State University
• Howard University
• Biography of Dr. Sidney Ribeau Ph.D.
• Press Release on Appointment of Dr. Ribeau