Honoree
Kenneth R.R. Gros Louis
AWARDS
- Honorary Degree (2001)
- L.H.D.
- DOCTOR OF HUMANE LETTERS
- LOCATION: Bloomington
- PRESENTER: Myles Neil Brand
- Titled Professor (2002)
- TRUSTEE PROFESSOR
- Department of English
- College of Arts and Sciences
- Indiana University Bloomington
- Thomas Hart Benton Medallion (1988)
- LOCATION: Indianapolis
- PRESENTER: Thomas Ehrlich
BIOGRAPHY
Kenneth R.R. Gros Louis was named Trustee Professor in 2001 upon retirement as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Bloomington Chancellor. During his 21 years as chief executive, the campus set records in enrollment and external support, established scores of new endowments for faculty and students, and was recognized nationally for innovation in undergraduate education. He returned in January of 2004 as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Bloomington Chancellor. He was named University Chancellor in 2006.
Chancellor Gros Louis received B.A. and M.A. degrees from Columbia and his Ph.D. in Medieval and Renaissance Literature from the University of Wisconsin. He joined IU in 1964 as a faculty member in the departments of English and Comparative Literature. Prior to being named in 1980 as Vice President for the Bloomington campus (as of 1988, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Bloomington campus Chancellor), he served as acting chair of Comparative Literature, chair of the Department of English, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Dean of the College.
He is author of the two-volume Literary Interpretations of Biblical Narrative as well as many articles on literature, higher education, or academic administration. He won IU's Ulysses G. Weatherly Award for distinguished teaching in 1970 and has continued to teach during his service as an administrator and in retirement. He was elected in 1991 to the Indiana Academy.
Beyond IU, Chancellor Gros Louis served for 15 years as chairman of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, a consortium of the Big Ten universities and the University of Chicago. He also served in various board or leadership roles with the National Research Council, the Indiana Committee for the Humanities, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, the National Commission on Library Preservation and Access, Monroe County United Way, the Monroe County Public Library, and Anthem Insurance, Inc.
Chancellor Gros Louis received B.A. and M.A. degrees from Columbia and his Ph.D. in Medieval and Renaissance Literature from the University of Wisconsin. He joined IU in 1964 as a faculty member in the departments of English and Comparative Literature. Prior to being named in 1980 as Vice President for the Bloomington campus (as of 1988, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Bloomington campus Chancellor), he served as acting chair of Comparative Literature, chair of the Department of English, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Dean of the College.
He is author of the two-volume Literary Interpretations of Biblical Narrative as well as many articles on literature, higher education, or academic administration. He won IU's Ulysses G. Weatherly Award for distinguished teaching in 1970 and has continued to teach during his service as an administrator and in retirement. He was elected in 1991 to the Indiana Academy.
Beyond IU, Chancellor Gros Louis served for 15 years as chairman of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, a consortium of the Big Ten universities and the University of Chicago. He also served in various board or leadership roles with the National Research Council, the Indiana Committee for the Humanities, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, the National Commission on Library Preservation and Access, Monroe County United Way, the Monroe County Public Library, and Anthem Insurance, Inc.
