Donald J. Farish
| Donald J. Farish | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
1942 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Fields |
Biology Zoology Entomology Law |
| Institutions |
President, Roger Williams University (2011-present) President, Rowan University (1998 to 2011) |
| Doctoral advisor | Edward O. Wilson |
Donald J. Farish (born in Winnipeg, Manitoba), is a biologist, lawyer, and President of Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island. He was President of Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey from 1998 to 2011.
Education
Farish earned a B.S. degree in Zoology from the University of British Columbia in 1963, a M.S. in Entomology from North Carolina State University in 1966, a PhD in Biology from Harvard University in 1970, and his J.D. from the University of Missouri in 1976. He is a member of the Missouri Bar.
Academic career
Farish taught at the University of Missouri from 1968–79, where he served as chair of the Physiology and Behavior Section, Division of Biological Sciences; at the University of Rhode Island (1979–83), where he served as assistant and associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; and at Sonoma State University (1983–98), where he served as dean of the School of Natural Sciences from 1983–90, and provost and vice-president for academic affairs from 1991-98. He was named president of Rowan University in 1998. He is the author of several editions of Human Biology, a leading text in the field, and over a dozen articles in magazines and journals.
As president of Rowan University, he led efforts for a 10-year improvement plan. The first phase centered on improvements to campus infrastructure, including construction of Science Hall, Education Hall, and a 113-unit on-campus townhouse complex.
Under a controversial agreement, Farish resigned in June 2011, one year before his contract expired in June 2012, in exchange for a $600,000 settlement. He did not receive the $250,000 in deferred compensation he would have received under his old contract, should he have stayed through 2012.[1]
It was announced on March 29, 2011 that Farish would become the 10th President of Roger Williams University. He took office in June 2011.[2]