Dr. William R. Butler was a professor of education and the Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Miami for 32 years, beginning in 1965. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserves, received his B.S. and M.A. degrees from Ohio University, and began his professional career at the University of Kansas where he worked as a Teaching Fellow in the Department of Human Relations. At KU, he pursued doctoral study in counseling psychology, earning his Ed.D. in 1956, then worked at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee as Dean of Men and Assistant Professor, followed by his move back to Ohio University with the same titles.

While at the University of Miami, Dr. Butler made many contributions including the establishment of the Hecht and Stanford Residential Colleges, starting a master’s program in higher education and opening the Wellness Center. He is most widely known as the founder of the Butler Center for Volunteer Services and Leadership Development (re-named in his honor upon his retirement) at U of M, which supports the activities and programs of student volunteers. Since his retirement in 1997, Butler has written two books about the development of student diversity initiatives, international scholars programs, and the globalization of the university. He and his wife, Virginia, live in Palmetto Bay and have four children and four grandchildren.