University of Michigan. Assistant to the President.

The office of Assistant to the President was created by President Burton in 1921 in conjunction with a reorganization of the Board of Regents committee structure. The Regents had operated with a series of subcommittees overseeing individual colleges or units. Burton persuaded the regents to focus on broader issues facing the university as a whole. The board reshaped itself with committees on the budget, on salaries, promotion of research, student welfare, educational policies, libraries, and buildings and grounds.

One result of the restructuring was that the deans, without a designated central committee to report to and work with, were forced to report their needs and plans directly to the president. Burton insisted on hiring an assistant to help with the increased workload. Frank R. Robbins, professor of Greek, was appointed to the post and served under four presidents through 1953.

The duties of assistant to the president covered a wide range of activities including membership on numerous university committees, overseeing many ceremonial affairs such as commencement, honors convocations, selection of honorary degree recipients.

With the appointment Erich Walter as Robbins' successor in 1953 the title was changed to Assistant to the President an Secretary of the University. In subsequent years the title and duties of the office have changed on several occasions. The duties of secretary of the university were split off as separate office and an Executive Assistant to President position was created.

• 1921 - 1953 : Frank Robbins
• 1953 - 1966 : Erich Walter
• 1966 - 1970 : Herbert Hildebrandt
• 1970 - 1974 : Richard L. Kennedy
• 1970 - 1983 : William L. Cash, Jr.
• 1982 - 1988 : James Shortt

From the guide to the Assistant to the President (University of Michigan) Records, 1913-1986, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)