Richard Nixon was in the White House when Richard McDowell took over as president of the… Richard Nixon was in the White House when Richard McDowell took over as president of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford in 1973.

Seven presidents later, McDowell announced that he will step down from that position effective June 30, 2002.

McDowell will remain at the campus to teach and conduct research in the biological sciences.

During his tenure as president, Pitt-Bradford’s enrollment tripled to 1,200 students and the University expanded its state-of-the-art facilities to meet the rising demand.

In a statement, Pitt Chancellor Mark Nordenberg praised McDowell’s professional abilities and the progress the University made under his direction. Citing the change from a two-year to a four-year program, Nordenberg praised McDowell’s “development of a strong, enthusiastic and energetic faculty, staff and advisory board who have worked in creative and committed ways to move the campus and its home community forward.”

In recent years Pitt-Bradford started two research centers: the Allegheny Institute of Natural History, whose programs McDowell will work with more directly once he steps down, and the Allegheny Research and Development Center.