Albin C. Bro

Albin Carl Bro (1893–1956) was a Christian missionary and educator, United States diplomat, and the fifth president of Shimer College.

Early life and education

Bro was born in Prentice, Wisconsin on September 4, 1893. He entered into missionary service in China in 1919, working as an educational missionary until 1925, during which time he also served as a school principal.

From 1932 to 1939, Bro worked in sales for the University of Chicago Press.

Presidency

Bro assumed the presidency of Shimer College in 1939 and served until 1949. He was the first Shimer president directly associated with the University of Chicago. Under his administration, efforts were made to adopt aspects of the general education curriculum from the College of the University of Chicago.

Later life

In 1949, Bro left the presidency of Shimer and was appointed a Foreign Service Reserve officer. However, Bro continued in this capacity until 1953. He was succeeded as president of Shimer by Aaron Brumbaugh of the University of Chicago.

After his diplomatic service was complete, Bro returned to the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. He died of a heart attack shortly thereafter, on March 6, 1956, while walking to church.

Albin Bro was the husband of Margueritte Harmon Bro, a prolific writer of children's and religious literature. Their son Harmon Bro later served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of Shimer College.