Carl B. Straub papers

Carl Benton Straub was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania on April 17, 1936 and grew up in nearby Mechanicsburg. After graduating from high school, he attended Colgate University, graduating with a degree in philosophy and religion in 1958. He went on to earn his S.T.B. and Ph.D. from Harvard Divinity School. His research focused on religious interpretations of the American landscape and on environmental ethics. In 1965 Straub came to Bates as an instructor in religion and the Cultural Heritage program. He continued in that capacity until 1970 when he became an assistant professor and assistant dean of the faculty. From 1974-1991, Professor Straub served as the Dean of the Faculty and the College’s Vice President for Academic Affairs, helping to develop the Faculty’s personnel and curriculum during years of significant changes. After retiring from the deanship, Straub returned to teaching and in 1996, when the interdisciplinary Program in Environmental Studies was established, he also started teaching a number of courses in that field. In the same year, he was appointed the Clark A. Griffith Professor of Environmental Studies. In addition to his academic responsibilities, Straub has held numerous national, regional, and state offices and trusteeships in the fields of higher education, the arts, and environmental concern. After 40 years at Bates, Professor Straub retired in 2005.