Albert Boynton Storms (April 1, 1860 – July 1, 1933) was a professor, university administrator, andMethodisttheologian. He wasPresident of Iowa State University,Ames, Iowa; and the second president ofBaldwin-Wallace College,Berea, Ohio.[1]
Storms was born inAnn Arbor, Michigan in 1860. He graduated the public schools of Ann Arbor and then attended theUniversity of Michigan, earning his A.B. in 1883, and his master's degree in 1884.
Storms immediately entered the ministry, in theDetroit conference of theMethodist Episcopal Church in 1884, and apprenticing until his ordination in 1886. During this time, he served in numerous pastorates inFranklin, Michigan,Hudson, Michigan, Harper Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church and Gass Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church in Detroit. He then served in churches inMadison, Wisconsin, andDes Moines, Iowa.
Storms' reputation grew, and he was given the post of President of the Iowa State College, (now,Iowa State University) in 1903. During this period, Storms was awardedhonorary doctorates fromLawrence University in 1903 andDrake University in 1905. Storms' skills as an administrator would blossom during this period.
After seven years at Iowa State, Storms returned to the ministry. He served as pastor of the Central Avenue Methodist Church inIndianapolis, Indiana until 1915. He was instrumental in the Indianapolis Conference, and his skills did not go unnoticed. He was called to serve as the Second President of Baldwin-Wallace College in 1918.
When Storms arrived at Baldwin-Wallace, the fledgling college was in much disarray. The first president of the college,Arthur Louis Breslich was ousted by the student body for what appeared to be pro-German sentiments during theFirst World War. His fifteen years at Baldwin- Wallace were marked with phenomenal growth. To his credit, the College might have failed without his dillegence.
Storms oversaw the growth of enrollments, endowments, programs, and faculty during the postbellum period. He was the last college president to teach regular classes on top of his busy schedule as president.
| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | President of Baldwin-Wallace College 1918–1933 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President ofIowa State University 1903–1910 | Succeeded by |
