Bryan leaves his position as president of Vincennes University in Indiana to become the third president of the fledging institution on the Palouse, beginning a 22-year tenure as its leader.

One of the most influential of WSU’s presidents, President Bryan believes that students must study liberal arts and sciences as well as basic professional skills to become better leaders. He pushs to have the college renamed the State College of Washington and to expand its academic offerings. Early in his presidency, President Bryan operates with no staff: he personally manages enrollment, record keeping, public relations, and parent relations—on top of teaching history and political economics.

In 1916, Bryan Hall is named in the president’s honor. The building’s clock tower, which glows crimson at night, is one of the most iconic landmarks on the Pullman campus.