Stephen B. L. Penrose, Jr. (1908-1954) was the youngest son of Stephen B. L. Penrose, Whitman College president from 1894-1934, and Mary Shipman Penrose. A graduate of Whitman College (BA, 1928) and Columbia University (PhD, 1934), Penrose taught at the American University of Beirut (1928-1931), Whitman College (1934-1937), and Rockford College in Illinois (1937-1938) and served as assistant director of the Near East College Association in New York (1938-1942).
After the entrance of the United States into World War II, Penrose joined the highly-secretive Office of Strategic Services (OSS), which directed U.S. intelligence activities during the war. When the OSS was dissolved in 1945, Penrose was transferred to the War Department. During 1947 and early 1948 he was an assistant to Secretary of Defense James Forrestal.
In 1948, Penrose became president of the American University of Beirut. During his tenure as president, Penrose was an outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights. Penrose delivered the 1953 commencement address at Whitman and was presented with an honorary degree of doctor of laws. The next year, at the age of 46, Penrose died of a heart ailment.
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