[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 55 (Tuesday, April 17, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E554-E555]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING DR. ROBERT A. CORRIGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 17, 2012

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Robert A. 
Corrigan and recognize his contribution to higher education, civic 
engagement and the application of university expertise to community 
issues. Dr. Corrigan is retiring as the President of San Francisco 
State University.
  One of our nation's leading public urban universities, under Dr. 
Corrigan's leadership, San Francisco State University has become 
acclaimed for its diversity and is known as a ``college with a 
conscience.'' With nationally recognized programs in a range of fields, 
the more than 212,000 graduates have contributed to the economic, 
cultural and civic fabric of San Francisco and beyond. Dr. Corrigan has 
been a dedicated supporter of the partnership between San Francisco 
State and the Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies, located 
in my district. Through research, education and outreach, and with a 
focus on San Francisco Bay, the Romberg Center works to advance the 
understanding of the world's complex marine environments.
  A graduate of Brown University in Rhode Island, Dr. Corrigan earned 
his master's and doctoral degrees in American Civilization from the 
University of Pennsylvania. During a 54-year career in academia, Dr. 
Corrigan has held faculty positions at the University of Iowa, Bryn 
Mawr College, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of 
Gothenburg in Sweden. He was a provost at the University of Maryland 
and Dean at the University of Missouri, before becoming chancellor of 
the University of Massachusetts at Boston.
  Starting at San Francisco State University in 1988, during a period 
of transition, Dr. Corrigan restructured the management of the 
university to build a better rapport between administration and 
faculty. A leader with considerable collaborative skills, he has worked 
hard to keep the campus competitive through careful management of funds 
during difficult budget cuts. A well-respected colleague and 
administrator, Dr. Corrigan presided over a major overhaul of the 
campus, funded with a $120 million facilities bond measure, student 
fees and private fundraising. Recently, the university opened its newly 
renovated library and there are plans to build a new performing arts 
center as well as a student wellness center.
  A champion of diversity in higher education, Dr. Corrigan is credited 
with building a model multi-cultural campus focused on social justice 
and equity. Where people of color constitute 70% of the student body 
and 41% of the faculty, Dr. Corrigan nurtured a culture of tolerance 
where differences are respected and debated peacefully on campus. He is 
the recipient of many awards and recognitions, including the 2009 
Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Public and Land-
grant Universities, the 2009 San Francisco Business Times ``Most 
Admired CEO'' award and the Distinguished Community Service Award from 
the Anti-Defamation League.
  A keen advocate of civic engagement, Dr. Corrigan has served on the 
boards of a variety of organizations, such as the Mayor's Children, 
Youth, and Families Policy Council, two

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terms as chair of the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Chamber 
of Commerce, the San Francisco Economic Development Corporation, and 
the California Historical Society Board of Directors. Among several 
active memberships, he is currently serving on the U.S. Department of 
Housing and Urban Development Anchor Institutions Task Force.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. Corrigan is a man of remarkable talent and 
considerable commitment, he will be missed in the community and at the 
university, but we honor him today and wish him well in his next 
endeavor. Congratulations, Robert Corrigan, and thank you.

                          ____________________