William “Bro” Adams Confirmed as Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities

Former Colby College President William D. “Bro” Adams was confirmed Wednesday by the United States Senate as the 10th chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Adams is expected to begin as chairman in the coming days. 

Adams retired from Colby College on June 30, 2014, concluding a 14-year tenure as president at the Maine college. He is an advocate for liberal arts education and brings to the NEH a long record of leadership in higher education and the humanities. 

NAICU President David Warren endorsed the appointment:  “I applaud and support the Obama Administration for nominating and the Senate for confirming Bro Adams to be chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).  I have known Bro for many years and his leadership and commitment to the humanities, lifelong learning, and providing access to cultural and historical education, will prove valuable as the NEH advances its funding and educational mission.”  

A native of Birmingham, Michigan, and son of an auto industry executive, Adams earned an undergraduate degree in philosophy at Colorado College and a Ph.D. from the University of California at Santa Cruz History of Consciousness Program. He studied in France as a Fulbright Scholar before beginning his career in higher education which has included appointments at Santa Clara University (CA), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Stanford University (CA).  He also has served as vice president and secretary of Wesleyan University and president of Bucknell University. 

Founded in 1965, the National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent grant-making institution of the United States government dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. 

The complete announcement is available on the NEH website.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Hassen