Faces of Impact
Robert Rutford


“Dr. Rutford was an esteemed scientist and leader when he came to UT Dallas and, under his leadership, the campus began looking like it does today — with a diverse student body and a broader focus on important research.”

— Dr. Inga Musselman, UT Dallas Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

The University’s second president oversaw UT Dallas’ expansion into a four-year institution.

Dr. Robert Rutford was UT Dallas’ second president, serving from 1982 to 1994. After retirement, he was named president emeritus by the UT System Board of Regents in 2007.

During his tenure, Rutford oversaw the creation of the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science and the Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies.

Of the many campus developments that have occurred in the University’s 50-year history, Rutford oversaw perhaps the most transformative: the admittance of UT Dallas’ first freshman and sophomore classes in 1990. Accompanying the University’s growth into a four-year institution was the construction of the first on-campus student housing.

As a faculty member, Rutford’s research interests included glacial geology and geomorphology, primarily in Antarctica. His work was recognized with the distinguished service award from the National Science Foundation and the Antarctic Service Medal. 

Beginning in the late 1950s, Rutford embarked on more than two dozen treks to Antarctica. Mount Rutford, located in the Ellsworth Mountains in Antarctica, is named in his honor, as well as the 130-mile-long Rutford Ice Stream.

At UT Dallas, Rutford Avenue bears his name in recognition of his accomplishments in developing UT Dallas as an outstanding center of excellence in teaching, research and service to the Metroplex and to the state of Texas.