University of Miami

When the University of Miami opened its doors in 1926, it consisted of the College of Liberal Arts, the School of Music, and the Evening Division. Under the leadership of its first president, Dr. Bowman F. Ashe (1926-52), the University added the School of Law (1928), School of Business Administration (1929), School of Education (1929), Graduate School (1941), Marine Laboratory (1942), now the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, School of Engineering (1947), and the School of Medicine (1952).

In 1953, Dr. Jay F.W. Pearson became president and led the University during a decade of unprecedented growth. New facilities and resources were added to keep pace with student enrollment as well as to increase the research strength of the institution.

Dr. Henry King Stanford (1962-81) was the University’s third president. His presidency was marked by further emphasis on research activity, additions to physical facilities, and reorganization of the University’s administrative structure.

Edward T. Foote II became the University of Miami’s fourth president in 1981. Under his leadership, the University was elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa and three new schools—Architecture, Communication, and the Graduate School of International Studies along with its research component, the North-South Center—were created.

The University entered its current phase in 2001 when Dr. Donna E. Shalala, the longest serving Secretary of Health and Human Services in U.S. history, became the University’s fifth president. To learn more about the University of Miami, click here.