Robert D. Phemister, 1983

Interim Presidents of Colorado State University

Phemister came to Fort Collins in 1964 as part of the U.S. Public Health Service team assigned to collaborate with CSU faculty on a research project.  In 1967, Phemister left government service to join the university's Department of Pathology and, a decade later, became dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.  As dean, he achieved credibility with the state legislature.  Likeable, pragmatic and genuinely loyal to CSU, he commanded the faculty's respect.  Few objected when he became interim president in 1983.  In this capacity he carried forward the CCHE-mandated planning process and conceived an undergraduate studies program that significantly enhanced the quality of general education for CSU students.