Robert Spencer Long (June 1927 in Chicago – December 25, 2015 in San Francisco), was a professor of physical science and the tenth president of Shimer College.
[1] After serving three years in the United States Navy, he studied at the University of Chicago, where he obtained a BA in 1951, a master of science in 1955, and a Ph.D. in geochemistry in 1964.
[1] He took control of a college with rapidly dropping enrolment and rising debt, problems which continued to worsen throughout his tenure.
[citation needed] In November 1973, the Board of Trustees announced that Shimer would close at the end of the year.
[2] Although an emergency fundraising campaign by faculty and students kept the college open, Long resigned at the end of 1973.