Kimmich, Christoph M.

Christoph M. Kimmich (b. 1939) was the eighth President of Brooklyn College. He served from 2000-2009. He attended Haverford College (B.A. 1961) and, upon graduating with honors, went on to Oxford University (Ph.D. 1964). Dr. Kimmich than began his teaching career at Columbia University where he remained for eight years. In 1973, he joined the staff of Brooklyn College's History Department. From 1980-1984, Dr. Kimmich served as Chairman of the History Department after which he was appointed Associate Provost. In 1988, he became Acting Provost and a year after that he was chosen as Provost. In 1997, Dr. Kimmich began his two year tenure as interim chancellor of the city University of New York. When New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giulliani threatened to withdraw much of the city's financial support for the City University of New York, Interim Chancellor Kimmich responded by expressing a desire to work together with the Mayor. Kimmich, a historian, believed in "commitment to principle" and "skill in getting things done by diplomacy, insight, persuasiveness, a sense of timing." (New York Times, February 4, 1998). In 2000, Dr. Kimmich was appointed President of Brooklyn College. He served throught August 2009. During his presidency, the college saw an increase in student body enrollment as well as major renovatoins and construction.