A mathematician and academic administrator from the United States, Robert Zimmer died on May 23, 2023. He held the positions of chair of the boards of Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, and Marine Biological Laboratory from 2006 until 2021. He also served as the 13th president of the University of Chicago during that time. After then, he was the University of Chicago’s chancellor from July 2022 till the present. Ergodic theory, Lie groups, and differential geometry were some of Zimmer’s areas of expertise in mathematics.
From Stuyvesant High School in New York, Zimmer graduated in 1964. His B.A., summa cum laude, was earned in 1968 after matriculating to Brandeis University as an undergraduate. At Harvard University, he pursued graduate-level mathematics studies. George Mackey served as his advisor, and he earned his master’s and doctorate there in 1971 and 1975, respectively.
Who was the former president of the University of Chicago?
One of the most influential leaders in the esteemed history of the University will be recognized as Chancellor Robert J. Zimmer, who led it as its 13th president from 2006 to 2021.
During his 15 years as president, Robert J. Zimmer made significant improvements to the University of Chicago’s scholarly standing, transformative education, and beneficial global effect. One of the foremost names in higher education in the country, Zimmer received widespread acclaim for his steadfast support of free expression as a core value of institutions.