Joseph F. Volker, (1913–1989) was the first president of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, serving in that capacity from 1969-1976. Afterwards, he was the first Chancellor of the UA System, from 1976 to 1982.
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".