Gregory L. Geoffroy papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: RS 2/14

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The collection (2000- 2010) contains biographical information, newspaper clippings, information on Geoffroy’s installation as president, speeches by Geoffroy, and information from the President’s Cabinet meetings.

The biographical information contains vita used by the presidential search committee, which includes Geoffroy’s professional background and a listing of published journal articles. Newspaper clipping folders contain articles about Geoffroy, with most of them coming from the Ames Tribune, Iowa State Daily, and Des Moines Register. The installation folders contain guest lists, event programs, invitations, and photographs. The President’s Cabinet files contain minutes, correspondence, and other related information from those meetings.

Dates

Creation: 2000-2010

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

Open for research.

Use/Re-use Restrictions

Consult Special Collections and University Archives

Biography/Profile

Gregory L. Geoffroy was born July 8, 1946 in Honolulu, Hawaii and grew up in Kentucky from the age of four. He received a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Louisville (1968). He served as an officer in the United States Navy (1969-1970). He also received a Ph.D. in chemistry from the California Institute of Technology (1974).

Geoffroy worked at Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) in the Department of Chemistry as an Assistant Professor (1974-1978), Associate Professor (1978-1982), and Professor (1982-1997). He also served as the Head of the Department of Chemistry (1988-1989). Geoffroy served as the Dean of Penn State’s Eberly College of Science (1989-1997), which encompassed eight departments. He has had over 200 journal articles published in the field of chemistry.

Geoffroy was Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at the University of Maryland (1997-2001). There, he was the chief academic officer who oversaw goals and development for all departments on campus. He also represented the University to various on-campus and external organizations, as well as working with Maryland’s legislature and governor’s office on issues that affected the school. Geoffroy served as interim President at the University of Maryland for three months (1998).

Geoffroy was selected to be Iowa State University’s 14th president (2001). Focusing on the $800 million private fund-raising campaign, Campaign Iowa State, and the need to raise private funds to support faculty positions, graduate assistantships, and student scholarships have been top priorities for him.

Geoffroy stepped down as Iowa State University President (2012) and took a chemistry faculty position and briefly returned to teaching. He retired from Iowa State (2013) in order to become the chairman of the Ashford University Board of Trustees.

He married Kathleen (Carothers) Geoffroy (1968) and they have four children named Susan, Janet, David, and Michael.