Roosevelt University - President Charles Middleton Biography

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President Middleton

Charles R. “Chuck” Middleton has served as the fifth President of Roosevelt University since July 2002. Roosevelt is a national leader in educating socially conscious citizens for active and dedicated lives as leaders in their professions and their communities.

Under Dr. Middleton’s leadership, Roosevelt University has achieved new levels of excellence and prominence. For example:

The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools reaccredited the University in 2006 without restrictions for the maximum period of 10 years.
Roosevelt’s retention and six-year graduation rates, the major indicators of student success, have improved dramatically. In addition, ACT scores of incoming freshmen have increased from 21.4 in fall 2004 to 22.3 in fall 2006.
University Center Chicago, the nation’s largest joint student residence hall with 1,700 beds, opened in 2004.
The University’s commitment to social justice has been enhanced by, among other activities, providing a challenge to all 2009 and 2010 graduates of Chicago’s Social Justice High School that the cost of attending Roosevelt will be covered if they successfully complete high school and qualify academically. Many of these students will be the first members of their families to earn college degrees. In addition, Roosevelt instituted flat-rate tuition in 2005, making it financially advantageous for students to take more courses each semester.
For the first time in its history, Roosevelt received investment grade credit ratings from two major rating agencies, Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service.
An exceptional leadership team has been appointed and it is implementing the University’s visionary strategic plan which was adopted in 2003, calling for a renewed commitment to social justice and academic excellence.

As President of Roosevelt University, Dr. Middleton heads one of the nation’s most diverse universities. According to a 2006 study in the New York Times on diversity of undergraduate students, Roosevelt University ranks 10th nationally in private institutions. Roosevelt’s 7,200 students take courses in arts and sciences, business administration, education and performing arts at comprehensive campuses in the Chicago Loop and northwest suburban Schaumburg. The University also owns the Auditorium Theatre, one of the most famous theaters in the world.

Dr. Middleton has been a university professor or administrator for 38 years. Prior to joining Roosevelt, he was vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University System of Maryland, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs at Bowling Green State University and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

A fellow of Great Britain’s Royal Historical Society, Dr. Middleton’s academic expertise is in modern British history from the late 18th Century to the early 19th Century and he has an interest in the history of sport in America. He has taught more than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students, written more than 60 scholarly papers and is the author of the book The Administration of British Foreign Policy, 1782-1846.

Dr. Middleton earned an AB degree with honors in history from Florida State University and both an MA and PhD in history from Duke University.

Dr. Middleton is active in educational and community organizations. He is a fellow of the Institute for International Education (Midwest), on the Board of Directors of the American Council on Education (ACE) and chair of the Federation of Illinois Independent Colleges and Universities. He also serves on the boards of the Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid Committee and Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute in Hyde Park, N.Y., among other organizations.

He also serves on the boards of the Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid Committee, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute in Hyde Park, N. Y., the Center on Halsted, the Chicago Loop Alliance, the Chicago Central Area Committee, the Near South Planning Board, the Point Foundation, and the Chicago Historical Museum Community Advisory Council for “Out at CHM.” He is a member of Rotary One, the Economic Club and the Executives Club.

In November 2006, Dr. Middleton was elected to the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame, along side Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.

In his free time, he enjoys fishing, attending Chicago Cubs and White Sox baseball games and cooking for friends.

02/08