Richard Durst

Richard Durst serves as the eighth president of Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio He became president in 2006.

Childhood and education

Richard Durst was born on August 31, 1945 in Scotts Bluff Hospital in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska to parents Wayne Durst and Pearle Hubka. His parents had a cattle ranch in Harrisburg, Nebraska. However, Richard spent most of his childhood living with his grandparents in Kansas City, Missouri. Richard Durst served four years in the Vietnam War aboard the U.S.S. England.Durst is a graduate of Missouri Western State College and holds a Masters in Fine Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma. He and his wife Karen were married in 1974 in Norman, Oklahoma. They have two children together: Amanda Durst and Derek Durst. His interests and hobbies include golf, traveling, pool, and email. Richard is also a painter, architect, and carpenter.

Career

Durst was Dean of the college of Arts and Architecture at Penn State University (2000-2006). Before that, he was Dean of the College of Fine and Performing Arts (1996-2000) and Special Assistant to the Chancellor (1997-2000) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Dean of the School of Fine Arts (1979-1996) at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Prior to that he was a faculty member and department head at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. He is Executive Director of the International Council of Fine Arts Deans. He is a past president of United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) and the International Organization of Designers, theatre Architects and technicians. Before his appointment as President of Baldwin-Wallace College, he was dean of the College of Arts and Architecture and executive director of University Arts Services at the Pennsylvania State University.

BW facts

• Durst is the first president of Baldwin-Wallace College since 1981 not to hold a Ph.D, however, his MFA is a terminal degree. The last president to have not earned a Ph.D was Alfred Bryan Bonds, whose doctorates were honoris causa.
• Durst is only the second president in college history not to hold a degree in divinity, or be a Methodist minister, which is the college's religious affiliation.
• Durst is the first president to have a fine arts background.
• Durst is the third president affiliated with a Big Ten university (faculty and dean at Penn State and the University of Minnesota), the others were Albert Boynton Storms (student at Michigan), and Arthur Breslich (student at Wisconsin).

Preceded by: Mark H. Collier

President of Baldwin-Wallace College 2006-present

Succeeded by: incumbent