William Rhodes '57, former senior vice chairman of Citigroup and Citibank, has accepted an appointment to a five-year term as professor-at-large at the Watson Institute for International Studies.
Rhodes spent 53 years working at Citi, where he was a leader in restructuring debt in several foreign countries. His donation to the University led to the 2007 creation of the William R. Rhodes Center for International Economics and Finance at the Watson Institute.
Rhodes said he looks forward to spending a few weeks on campus each semester, working with both undergraduate and graduate students "on areas of economics, finance (and) diplomacy."
"I have a lot on my plate right now, but Brown is very important to me, and I know I will enjoy the work out there, and I certainly look forward to it," he said.
Rhodes said he recently discussed the logistics of his plan with Vice President for International Affairs Matthew Gutmann P'14 and Vice President for International Advancement Ronald Margolin.
Since he retired from Citi Apr. 1, Rhodes has been serving as a part-time senior adviser to the company.
"For me, this will be a very interesting experience," Rhodes said. "I've done a couple of lectures at Brown over the years, but it's always been bigger groups." While Rhodes hopes to give more lectures, he also looks forward to working with smaller groups, he said.
According to the Handbook of Academic Administration, "The professor-at-large title is reserved for scholars of exceptional distinction who are invited to teach at Brown as visiting faculty to enhance the existing strengths of particular programs or meet special needs." The institute currently has three other professors-at-large: former Chilean President Ricardo Lagos Escobar; Richard Holbrooke '62, U.S. special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan and former Herald editor-in-chief; and former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.
"Bringing scholars and distinguished practitioners together in the address of pressing global issues is the Watson mission," said Watson Director Michael Kennedy in a press release.
Rhodes' "long career in international finance and his leadership role in the development of the Rhodes Center and the Watson Institute will make him an invaluable resource for undergraduates, graduate students and faculty colleagues," said President Ruth Simmons in a press release.