Joseph F. Volker, (1913–1989) was the first chief executive of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, serving in that capacity from 1966 to 1976. Afterwards, he was the first Chancellor of the UA System, from 1976 to 1982. As the first president of UAB he is remembered for his statement "We would do Birmingham a great disservice if we dream too-little dreams.", Volker earned his DDS degree from Indiana University and his MS and PhD degrees in biochemistry from the University of Rochester, where he conducted groundbreaking studies on the use of fluorides in the prevention of dental decay".