In Memoriam: Dr. Delbert (Del) Ringquist

Central Michigan University alumnus and emeritus faculty member Delbert (Del) Ringquist will be remembered as a caring and quick-witted professor whose influence continues to shape the university community. Ringquist passed away on July 13 at the age of 82.

Ringquist first came to CMU in 1965 to pursue a bachelor’s degree, and it was here that he also met his wife, Barb. The two married shortly after graduation, beginning a lifelong partnership rooted in their shared connection to CMU.

After earning his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Oklahoma, he returned to Mount Pleasant in 1971 to join the faculty in the Department of Political Science.

Though his academic training focused on comparative politics with a specialization in political violence and development in francophone Africa, Ringquist taught nearly every course offered by the department over his remarkable 44-year career. He also served as faculty advisor to the CMU Model United Nations team, which received repeated national recognition under his decades of leadership.

Beyond the classroom, he played a pivotal role in expanding CMU’s reach. As one of the architects of CMU’s Innovation & Online, he led what was then the College of Extended Learning to national prominence during his six years as dean. After returning to the faculty in 2002, he championed innovation in online and international education and shifted his teaching focus to U.S. public policy, strategic leadership, and the American presidency.

He also served for many years as department chair, guiding colleagues and students with integrity and vision. He retired from CMU in the summer of 2015.