Dr. Frank N. Elliott, Rider University’s fourth president passed away Sept. 24, 2015, after a lengthy illness. He was 89.
Dr. Elliott was appointed president of Rider in 1969. During his presidency, Rider’s School of Education received national accreditation from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teachers (NCATE) in 1974 and the number of faculty holding doctoral degrees increased from 32 percent to more than 90 percent. Also during his tenure, the School of Business Administration building was constructed and opened in 1989 and the number of bound volumes in the Franklin F. Moore Library doubled.
Today, the Frank N. Elliott Award, named in his honor, is bestowed annually upon a member of the faculty, administration and support staff in recognition of their extraordinary service to Rider.
Born in Dunkirk, N.Y., Dr. Elliott earned his doctorate from the University of Wisconsin. Prior to coming to Rider, he served as curator of history and an assistant professor of history at Michigan State University; associate dean of the School of General Studies at Columbia University; director of the Division of Arts and Sciences at SUNY-Cortland; and a vice president at Hofstra University.
Dr. Elliott is survived by his wife, Mary Elizabeth (Betta), and his daughters, Susan Marie and Ann Neish. He was predeceased by his son, Robert Frank.
A memorial service was held in the fall at The Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville.