Robert M. Berdahl

Robert Max Berdahl (born March 15, 1937) is an American historian, author and the interim President of the University of Oregon (OU). He was chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley from 1997 to 2004. He was president of the Association of American Universities (AAU) from May 2006 to June 2011. In addition to his duties as interim President, he serves on the Board of Directors of Lam Research Corporation. 
Biography.
Berdahl was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1937. He received his B.A. degree from Augustana College (South Dakota). Berdahl got an M.A. degree from the University of Illinois. He earned a Ph.D. in history from the University of Minnesota in 1965.
Berdahl taught history at OU from 1967 to 1986. During that time he was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 1981 to 1986 while Paul Olum was OU president. Olum also was forced to retire in a fight over resources for the university. Berdahl then was vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for seven years. He then was president of the University of Texas for four years.
On December 9, 2011, Berdahl announced that he had been asked by the Oregon State Board of Higher Education to serve as the interim president of the University of Oregon. On November 28, 2011, the board gave Richard W. Lariviere 30 days to leave his office. Berdahl had written an editorial supporting Lariviere. Berdahl took office on December 29, 2011 and will serve until fall 2012 when his successor is named.