Colbourn, Harold Trevor, 1927-2015

H. Trevor Colbourn became the second president of Florida Technological University, now University of Central Florida, in 1978. He resigned and returned to teaching in 1989. In 1990, he earned the title President Emeritus and assumed the role of University Historian in 1991. As part of the latter appointment, he compiled an oral history of the university and interviewed many people such as founders, other presidents, donors, faculty, and staff that were instrumental in the history of the university.

H. Trevor Colbourn was the second president of Florida Technological University/University of Central Florida. His tenure ran from 1978 to 1989.

H. Trevor Colbourn was born in Armidale, New South Wales, Australia on 24 February 1927, but moved to England as a child. Known by his second name, Trevor Colbourn earned his BA at the University of London then moved to the United States of America in 1948 to further his education at the College of William and Mary; finally earning his Ph.D. in American History at Johns Hopkins in 1953. In 1949, Colbourn married Beryl Evans and they eventually had two daughters.

Dr. Colbourn taught at Penn State and Indiana University in Bloomington before moving into administration. In 1967, he became Graduate Dean at the University of New Hampshire. In 1973 he was appointed Academic Vice President of San Diego State University and eventually served as Acting President from 1977-1978 before becoming President of Florida Technological University in 1978.

As President, Colbourn's first action was to implement the university's name change to the University of Central Florida. During his tenure, enrollment increased sixty percent to more than 18,000 students, and the university implemented one of the first telephone registration systems in the country. Dr. Colbourn established the College of Arts and Sciences, the Undergraduate Studies Office, the Football program and the Honors Program. Under his guidance, the university gained its first stand alone doctoral programs in Computer Science, Business Administration and Psychology (Human Factors). New programs were implemented in Hospitality Management, Special Education, Aerospace Engineering, Information Systems Technology and Computer Technology, and master's degree programs were also expanded. Research increased with the creation of the Center for Research in Electro-Optics and Lasers, the Institute for Simulation and Training, the Sinkhole Institute and the Central Florida Research Park. Unusually for a university president, Dr. Colbourn tried to teach one course per year.

The campus increased in size with the building of the Wayne Densch Sports Center, the establishment of Greek Park, the extension of the library, an increase in the numbers of dormitories, and the construction of new buildings for the Fine Arts and the Colleges of Business Administration and Engineering. Additionally, the Arena, the Student Union and the Barbara Ying Center were planned. Regional Campuses gained the Lifelong Learning Center at Brevard Campus and the Daytona Beach Joint Use Facility.

After retiring as president, Dr. Colbourn returned to teaching history full-time at the university. In 1990, he earned the title President Emeritus and assumed the role of University Historian in 1991. As part of the latter appointment, he compiled an oral history of the university. Dr. Colbourn wrote extensively on the American Revolutionary period and his books may be found in the university library. Among his many appointments, Dr. Colbourn served as State Representative for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities from 1983 to 1986, President of the Florida Association of Colleges and Universities in 1985, Chairman of the Air University Board of Visitors, and Chairman of the Douglass Adair Memorial Prize Committee. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Commission of Mid-Florida, United Way of Orange County, Florida Endowment Fund for Higher Education, and the UCF/Orlando Shakespeare Festival. Despite his third retirement from the university in 2006, Dr. Colbourn continues to support the university of which he has been a vital part for almost thirty years.