Stanford University inaugurated its first provost in 1952. Over the past decades, the office has been held by 3 future presidents of the University as well as other distinguished Stanford names.
Below is a chronology of the office holders:
| Years | Provost |
|---|---|
| 1952-1955 | Douglas M. Whitaker |
| 1955-1965 | Frederick E. Terman |
| 1967-1970 | Richard W. Lyman |
| 1971-1978 | William F. Miller |
| 1979 | Gerald Lieberman |
| 1979-1980 | Donald Kennedy |
| 1980-1984 | Albert M. Hastorf |
| 1984-1992 | James N. Rosse |
| 1992-1993 | Gerald Lieberman |
| 1993-1999 | Condoleezza Rice |
| 1999-2000 | John Hennessy |
| 2000- | John Etchemendy |