Albion Interactive History / People / <Albion College
Dr. Melvin L. Vulgamore
13th President, 1983-1997
Albion College President +
Accomplishments as President
- Facilities expanded
- Bonta Admissions (1996)
- Campus Safety (1997)
- Kellogg Center (1997)
- Vulgamore Hall (1997)
Biographical Information
Dr. Vulgamore received his bachelor of arts degree from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1957, his bachelor of divinity from Harvard University in 1960, and his Doctor of philosophy from Boston University in 1963. Like most of hispredecessors, Dr. Vulgamore also became an ordained minister of the United Methodist Church during his student years.
The president elect came to Albion from a coeducational institution of some 4,500 students founded five years before Albion College in 1830. Today theUniversity of Richmond offers a variety of degrees ranging from the associate to the master’s. While the chief academic officer of the university, Dr. Vulgamore undertook complete revision of the Faculty Handbook, raised facultysalaries, and secured a number of important grants. Apropos to his appointment at Albion, in 1978-79 he served as the chief planning officer in a year-long preparation of a five-year fiscal plan adopted by the Board of Trustees at the university in November if 1979.
To complement his domestic academic career, President Vulgamore has traveled widely throughout Europe and the Middle East, serving in 1971-72 as visiting professor of cultural studies a theAmerican University of Beirut. In addition he has received research grants providingpost-doctoral study at Oxford and a sabbatical at Heidelberg University.
Upon his graduation from Ohio Wesleyan, Dr. Vulgamore married the former Nan Oyer in 1957. From her experience on the music faculty at the Columbus School for Girls, Mrs. Vulgamore has promoted interest in the musical artsthroughout the family. Not only does her husband list classical music among his hobbies, but their older daughter, Allison, a graduate of the Oberlin College Conservatory, now serves as artistic administrator of the National Symphony Orchestrain Washington. Her husband, Peter Marshall, is instructor of music and chapel organist at Duke University. The Vulgamore’s younger daughter, Sarah, is currently a student at the New York University School of Arts.
The Vulgamore family on Innauguration Day. (L-R) Peter Marshall, son-in-law; Allison, daughter,; President Vulgamore; Mrs. Nan Vulgamore; Sarah, daughter.
Upon accepting the presidential medallion from Trustee Chairman John S. Ludington, Dr. Melvin L. Vulgamore officially became the thirteenth president of Albion College.
Biology professor Clara Dixon, senior member of the faculty, welcomes President and Mrs. Vulgamore at the Inaugural Luncheon.
Trustee William Stoffer, president of the Albion Machine and Tool Company, greets the Vulgamores at a public reception at the St. James Episcopal Church.
Source: Keith Fennimore. The Albion College Sesquicentennial History. Albion, Michigan: Albion College. 1985.