Short biography of Dr. Barron
Dr. Eric J. Barron is the 14th president of The Florida State University. He is a 1973
Florida State alumnus, with a bachelor's degree in geology. He earned master's and
doctoral degrees in oceanography from the University of Miami.
Before his arrival at Florida State he was director of the National Center for Atmospheric
Research. His previous positions include dean of the Jackson School of Geosciences at
the University of Texas at Austin and dean of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
at Pennsylvania State University.
Dr. Barron is widely recognized for his scholarly work and is a Fellow in the American
Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Geophysical Union, the
American Meteorological Society and the Geological Society of America. He has
chaired committees and panels of the National Research Council since 1987 and currently
chairs "An Ocean Infrastructure for U.S. Ocean Research in 2030."
A highly visible scientist, Dr.Barron is committed to the full spectrum of academic
disciplines. He is an ardent supporter and advocate for the full spectrum of excellence in
the arts and humanities, sciences, law, business and medicine.
A native of Lafayette, Ind., Barron and his wife, Molly, have two grown children.