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About The President
President Bill Destler
Dr. William W. Destler became president of Rochester Institute of Technology on July 1, 2007. He is the ninth president in the university's 178-year history. He was formerly senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Maryland at College Park.
Dr. Destler serves on the American Council on Education's Commission on Effective Leadership and is a board member for the National Institute of Aerospace Foundation. He also serves on community boards in Rochester: Greater Rochester Enterprise, Rochester Business Alliance, and High Tech of Rochester.
Prior to RIT, Dr. Destler spent more than 30 years at the University of Maryland, rising from the ranks of research associate and assistant professor of electrical engineering to senior vice president and provost. At Maryland, he also served as electrical engineering department chair, dean of the A. James Clark School of Engineering, interim vice president for university advancement, vice president for research, and dean of the graduate school.
Dr. Destler is an international authority on high-power microwave sources and advanced accelerator concepts. He is best known for his pioneering work in the collective acceleration of heavy ions, achieving the highest energies to date by this method, and for his development of large orbit microwave devices, including large orbit gyrotrons and rotating beam free electron lasers. He has consulted for government agencies and private firms, received more than $40 million in grants and contracts, published more than 200 journal articles and book chapters, and presented many papers. Dr. Destler has also directed 18 master's and doctoral student theses and earned awards for his teaching.
Dr. Destler earned a bachelor's degree from Stevens Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. from Cornell University. Both degrees were in the field of applied physics.
Dr. Destler comes from a family of "humanists"including his wife, Rebecca L. Johnson, who holds a Ph.D. in psychology, and his father, who was a historian, along with other family members who pursued math and the humanities. The couple has two grown sons.
Dr. Destler is also one of the world's foremost collectors of antique banjos. He has a website showcasing his hobby at www.billsbanjos.com. Bill and Rebecca also share an interest in biking and alternative-powered vehicles and scooters.
View the President's Inaugural Address
President's Cabinet
President Destler's cabinet of administrators includes:
- Provost/Senior Vice President, Academic Affairs Jeremy Haefner
- Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration James Watters
- Senior Vice President, Enrollment Management and Career Services James Miller
- Chief of Staff Karen Barrows
- Vice President, Research Donald Boyd
- Vice President, Development and Alumni Relations Lisa Cauda
- Vice President, Student Affairs Mary-Beth Cooper
- Executive Assistant to the President Barry Culhane
- Chief Communications Officer, University News Bob Finnerty
- President, National Technical Institute for the Deaf/Vice President and Dean, RIT T. Alan Hurwitz
- Vice President for Special Projects Kit Mayberry
- Vice President, Government and Community Relations Deborah Stendardi
- Ombudsperson Lee Twyman
- Interim Chief Diversity Officer - Howard Ward