Robert G. Bottoms, the longest-serving president in the history of DePauw, continues to serve the University as president emeritus and director of the Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics. During his 22 years as president, Bottoms led the University in developing a more diverse student body, faculty and staff, significantly strengthening science education and advancing moral reflection. Under his leadership, DePauw partnered with The Posse Foundation – a youth leadership development and college access organization that sends teams (Posses) of students from diverse backgrounds to selective colleges and universities – and in 2004 DePauw became the first college in the nation to host two Posse groups (from New York City and Chicago). He spearheaded efforts to establish the 520-acre DePauw University Nature Park, which provides unique science research and study opportunities for students and faculty members, and is the site of the Prindle Institute for Ethics.
Bottoms also led two highly successful fundraising efforts, the Sesquicentennial Campaign completed in 1987 and Campaign for DePauw: Leadership for a New Century, which culminated in 2000 with gifts and commitments in excess of $374 million.
A native of Birmingham, Ala., Bottoms received a bachelor’s degree at Birmingham-Southern College, Bachelor of Divinity at Emory University and doctorate at Vanderbilt University. He began his career in higher education when he was appointed chaplain and assistant to the president at Birmingham-Southern. He later moved to the Vanderbilt Divinity School as assistant dean and assistant professor of church and ministry. He joined DePauw in 1978 as vice president for University relations and later became executive vice president of the University prior to being named president.