Babbitt, Samuel F.

Person

Staff Only

President of Kirkland College -- Samuel Fisher Babbitt was born in New Haven, CT, on 22 February, 1929. After earning a silver star for his service as a Master Sergeant during the Korean War, Babbitt graduated from Yale College in 1953. He later earned his Master's degree in general studies (1957) and his Ph.D. in American Studies (1965) from Yale Graduate School. He later received an honorary degree from Hamilton College in 1969. Babbitt came to Kirkland College after serving as lecturer in English and Dean of Men at Vanderbilt University from 1957-1962, and Assistant Dean of Yale Graduate School (1962-1966). Babbitt was appointed President of the newly incorporated Kirkland College in 1966, and was officially inaugurated in April of 1969. He held that position until Kirkland College merged with Hamilton College in 1978. After completing his service as President of Kirkland, Babbitt was appointed vice president of Program Planning and Resources at the Memorial Sloane-Kettering Cancer Center of New York in 1980 and in 1983 became the vice president for development at Brown University, a position he held until his retirement in 1993.