Founder, First University President | 1945–63
Edward Sparling served as president of the Central YMCA College from 1936 to 1945. He came increasingly into conflict with the college board over discrimination. He formally resigned on April 24, 1945 to create Roosevelt College.
Sparling was a champion for academic freedom and equal access to education. At Roosevelt, he ensured that faculty members were represented on the new Board of Trustees and led the acquisition of the Auditorium Theatre.
Other founding faculty members included political scientist Tarini Prasad Sinha, economist Abba Lerner, philosopher Estelle De Lacy, language professor Dalai Brenes and chemist Edward Chandler.