Bob Stearns was the first alumnus (BA’14, DhL’54) and the first dean to become president of CU.

In the initial years of his administration, Stearns, who served as dean of the Law School from 1931-1939, faced budget deficits while the storms of World War II were gathering.

Like Norlin, Stearns was a strong Jeffersonian democrat who believed an educated populace was necessary to withstand the appeals of demagogues like Hitler. Although willing to adjust to the national needs during the war by introducing national defense activities to campus, Stearns was insistent that educational goals not be compromised and that war-time changes were temporary.