Findlay, Ohio, Feb. 7, 2005 – Dr. Glen R. Rasmussen, former president of Findlay College (now The University of Findlay), died Feb. 4, 2005, in Buies Creek, N.C. He was 83.

Dr. Rasmussen was named the 14th president of Findlay College in March 1972 and served until his retirement on Aug. 31, 1983. During his tenure, the college improved its financial stability, its facilities, the quality of its programs and its salaries for faculty and staff members.

His presidency also saw the following programs established: the Office of Community Education, WLFC-FM radio station, the Intensive English Language Institute, Office of Career Education, equestrian studies program, freshman seminar program, Weekend College, computer science, bilingual/multicultural program and the pre-veterinary medicine program.

“If there was any one word which would characterize the 1972-1982 years, it would be ‘innovation,’ according to Dr. Richard Kern’s history book “Findlay College: The First 100 Years.” “Employing a genial, low-keyed and reasoning style of leadership, President Rasmussen worked steadily with the faculty, staff, Board of Trustees and community in exploring ways to locate and meet educational needs within the framework of a liberal arts program.”

While serving as Findlay’s president, he served on the board of directors of the Association of Independent Colleges and the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges. Dr. Rasmussen devoted 35 years to higher education. Prior to coming to Findlay College, he was vice president for academic affairs and professor of psychology at Morningside College, in Sioux City, Iowa, for four years.

From 1963-68, he was vice president, academic dean and professor of psychology at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis. He was a professor of psychology and education at Southern Illinois University from 1962-63. He served as a professor of educational psychology at the University of Michigan, Flint campus, from 1956 to 1962; a lecturer in the University of Michigan School of Education from 1952-56; a lecturer in psychology at Eastern Michigan University from 1951-52; and an assistant professor and director of instrumental music at Georgia Southern College in Statesboro, Ga., from 1948-50.

Active in the community, he served on the Board of Directors for the Findlay Area Chamber of Commerce and as a trustee of the United Way of Hancock County. He was a member of the Findlay Rotary Club and the Findlay Symposium.

Dr. Rasmussen was born on April 23, 1921 in Chicago. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942-46.

He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from Wayne State University and obtained a doctor of philosophy degree in educational psychology from the University of Michigan in 1953.

Dr. Rasmussen is survived by his wife, Joyce, daughter Carol, and sons Paul, David, Neil and Steven.

A memorial service for Dr. Rasmussen was held on Feb. 7 at the Memorial Baptist Church in Buies Creek.