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History of Stanford Presidents

Richard Saller became Stanford University’s 12th president on September 1, 2023.

Presidents of Stanford University
1891-1913 David Starr Jordan
1913-1915 John Casper Branner
1916-1943 Ray Lyman Wilbur 1
1943-1948 Donald B. Tresidder 2
1949-1968 J. E. Wallace Sterling 3
1968-1970 Kenneth S. Pitzer
1970-1980 Richard W. Lyman
1980-1992 Donald Kennedy
1992-2000 Gerhard Casper
2000-2016 John Hennessy 4
2016-2023 Marc Tessier-Lavigne
2023- Richard Saller

1 Robert Eccles Swain served as acting president from 1929-1933.

2 Alvin Eurich and Clarence H. Faust served as acting presidents between Tresidder and Sterling.

3 Robert J. Glaser served as acting president between Sterling and Pitzer.

4 John Etchemendy served as acting president from Feb. 14 – June 8, 2012.