Thomas R. Plough

Thomas Robert Plough
Plough in 1980
Born1941 (age 82–83)
Traverse City, Michigan, U.S.
Alma materMichigan State University
Occupation(s)Sociologist, academic administrator
Signature

Thomas Robert Plough (born 1941) is an American sociologist most notable for having served as president of North Dakota State University and Assumption College.

Plough is a graduate of Michigan State University. He began his career at Alma College, where he rose to serve as dean of students. He moved to the Eisenhower College and later the Rochester Institute of Technology where he was eventually appointed provost.[1][2] He also briefly served as acting RIT president in 1991 and again in 1992.[3][4] Plough resigned in the wake of the same scandal that led to the early retirement of M. Richard Rose.[5]

Plough assumed the presidency of North Dakota State University in 1995 and moved to Assumption College in 1998. He announced his retirement in August 2006.

  1. ^ Gordon, Dane R. (2007), Rochester Institute of Technology: Industrial Development and Educational Innovation in an American City, 1829–2006 (1 ed.), Henrietta, New York: RIT Press, p. 381, ISBN 978-1-933360-24-9, OCLC 80360669
  2. ^ "RIT appoints Thomas Plough to new position as provost". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. May 28, 1984. p. 3B.
  3. ^ "RIT picks its next president". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. May 19, 1992. p. 1A.
  4. ^ "A leadership shuffle at RIT". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. August 3, 1994. p. 1B. He had served as acting president of RIT twice—first, when former President M. Richard Rose took a sabbatical to work for the CIA in 1991, and again when Rose retired in 1992.
  5. ^ "A leadership shuffle at RIT". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. August 3, 1994. p. 1B. Plough was caught in the middle of a 1991 controversy when RIT was criticized for having links with the Central Intelligence Agency.