Robert E. Boyer first joined the Department of Geological Sciences as an instructor in 1957 after completing his dissertation at the University of Michigan. Upon completion in 1959, he was made an assistant professor; he was promoted to associate professor in 1962 and full professor in 1967.  From 1970-1980, Bob served as chairman of the Department and director of the Geology Foundation.  During that decade, his focus was to enhance the reputation of the Department through effective recruitment of both beginning-level and senior faculty as well as to strengthen the links between academic and practicing geologists.  He is an honoary life member of the Geology Foundation Advisory Council.

In 1980, he was asked to serve as Dean of the College of Natural Sciences.  He accepted and served 14 years, a period of remarkable growth and accomplishment in the College. Early in his tenure, Bob created the Natural Sciences Foundation Advisory Council, using the Geology Foundation as a model, and encouraged the departments in the College to establish Visiting Committees, following his desire to enhance relationships between the academic world and practicing scientists. Bob retired from The University of Texas at Austin in 2000 and now holds the Peter T. Flawn Chair Emeritus in Geological Sciences.