Description

An oral history conducted by Susan Resnik, Ph.D. with former San Diego State University President Brage Golding over April 26 - 28, 2006. In 1972, Doctor Golding began his tenure as San Diego State University's fifth president. As president, Golding changed San Diego State College to San Diego State University. He instituted a successful affirmative action program, and increased the standards of performance for faculty. Golding also helped get SDSU into the Western Athletic Conference. Despite these achievements, Golding had a cantankerous relationship with California Governor Jerry Brown and the California State University Chancellor. As a result, Golding left SDSU in 1977, and went on to serve as President for Kent State University, and later as president for Metropolitan State University in Denver, and Western State University in Gunnison, Colorado. Brage Golding's oral history documents his family, and his academic and professional activities, with a focus on his career at San Diego State University. Doctor Golding first discusses growing up in Chicago as well as his military experience during WWII. He then reflects on his chemical engineering professorship at Purdue University. Of particular significance is Golding's remembrances of helping to found, and serve as president for, Wright State University in Ohio. Golding details the genesis of the University, including its funding, building, and hiring of personnel. The second half of the printer focuses on Golding's career as president of San Diego State University, and his subsequent presidency at Kent State. He discusses the changes at San Diego State during his tenure, emphasizing the build up and success of the SDSU Research Foundation. Golding also examines his presidency at Kent State as well as his effectiveness at quelling student unrest on campus. This oral history was made possible by a grant from the John and Jane Adams Endowment for the Humanities and is part of the University Archives Multimedia Files Collection. Names mentioned during the interview include: Edmund Gerald Brown, Jr. and Glenn Dumke., San Diego State University