Sidney A. Ribeau

Prior to accepting the position at Howard, Ribeau was the president of Bowling Green State University for 13 years.

In 1976, Ribeau began his teaching career at California State University, Los Angeles as a professor of communication studies.

He was honored there as an outstanding teacher and student adviser, and in 1984, became chair of the university's Pan African Studies Department, a position he held for three years.

From 1990 to 1992, Ribeau was dean of the College of Liberal Arts at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and was then appointed vice president for academic affairs at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, a position he held until going to Bowling Green in 1995.

[6] But as details of the rocky relationship between him and the school's Board of Trustees emerge, it appears that Ribeau was forced out of the job after just five years on the post.