29. Robert A. Scott

Robert A. Scott, ninth president and professor of anthropology and sociology at Adelphi University, is the only person to hold the three top positions in American higher education: head of a public institution, a state coordinating board and a private university. Aside from authoring more than 200 scholarly essays and articles and hosting the award-winning “Exploring Critical Issues” TV program, Scott has represented the United States in international negotiations with UNESCO, the Council of Europe and countries in the Asia/Pacific region. Under Scott’s leadership, Adelphi University was elected as an affiliate of the United Nations, enrollment increased nearly 40 percent, undergraduate enrollment by 66 percent and total assets of the university to more than $300 million, up from $142 million. Keeping with his vision of Adelphi as the “engaged” university, deepening its ties with the Long Island community through on-campus cultural events and social health initiatives, has been a top priority of Scott’s administration. Adelphi is better off, thanks to him.