DELAND
tetson Fetter
ST. PETERSBURG
OCTOBER 30, 1967
Dr. Paul Geren Assumes Presidency
Stetson University, in its 85th year of providing quality education in a Christian environment, is now operating under its fifth president — Dr. Paul Francis Geren.
The new chief executive succeeds Dr. J. Ollie Edmunds,
who has become the University's first Chancellor after
nearly twenty years of service as its president.
An author, soldier, educator and diplomat of national
reputation, Dr. Geren brings to his new post a sincere
dedication to the goal of establishing for Stetson an International image in education comparable to its present
leadership rank among private colleges and universities in
the South.
Since assuming his new role on September 15, President Geren has been the epitome of a "man-on-the-move."
The first ten days of his administration were devoted to a
complete tour of campus facilities, strengthened by private conversations with department heads in their own
environments.
After becoming familiar with campus facilities and his
academic and administrative heads, the new Stetson
president began mapping plans for Stetson's immediate
future. These plans include: the beginning of construction
of a new School of Music building, probably to come this
spring; the construction of a new $100,000 Olympic-size
swimming pool which will eventually be a part of a multipurpose athletic and physical education complex; and a
greatly reinforced International Studies program.
The enthusiasm with which these programs were
launched is symbolic of the enthusiasm which has prevailed on the Stetson campus since President Geren's
arrival.
BACKGROUND FOR PRESIDENCY
Chancellor Edmunds, on several recent occasions, has
said that President Geren began preparing for the responsibilities he has assumed at birth. If study and/or experience in almost all walks of life is a criteria for becoming president of Stetson University, then Chancellor Edmunds was accurate in his assessment.
Dr. Geren was born December 5, 1913, in El Dorado,
Arkansas — the son of Rev. Hiram Marian Geren, a
Baptist minister, and Julia Goodwin Geren. He graduated
Valedictorian from El Dorado High School in 1932.
He was a Cum Laude graduate of Baylor University in
1936 with a double major in English and Speech. He
holds M.A. degrees in Economics from both Louisiana
State University and Harvard. He earned his Ph.D. in
Economics at Harvard in 1941. He also holds an honorary LL.D. degree from St. Mary's University.
Chancellor Edmunds presents office keys to his successor on
President Geren's first day at the office.
Dr. Geren's distinguished military career, which spanned nearly five years, began in 1941 when he become a
volunteer ambulance driver for the Chinese Army in Burma.
He was in on the famous Stilwell March out of Burma in
1942. The next year, he worked as a combat medic in
the medical unit formed by Dr. Gordon Seagraves, noted
Burma surgeon.
In 1944, Dr. Geren joined the famed Merrill's Marauders in their operations behind Japanese lines. He won a
direct commission as an intelligence officer, and, in 1945,
received the Bronze Star for assisting Major General
Frank Merrill, who had been wounded, escape a Japanese
encirclement in Burma. He was discharged from active
military service in 1946 with the rank of First Lieutenant.
The varied professional career of Stetson's new president began in 1937 when he served as an instructor at
Louisiana State University while working on his M.A. After
receiving his Ph.D. at Harvard, he went to Burma where
(Continued on Page 2)
