2008 Woodie Awards
Harvard appoints first woman president
Radcliffe Dean to become 28th President
Sheeraz Hyder
Issue date: 3/2/07 Section: Local News
- Page 1 of 1
Lawrence Summers, the controversial president of Harvard University made famous by his remarks that women may not have the gene to succeed in science and engineering, has been ousted. The Harvard Corporation has decided to make a statement in response to Summers by confirming Drew Gilpin Faust, Dean of Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study, as their 28th president.
Faust does not view herself in a historic limelight. She commented, "I'm not the woman president of Harvard; I'm the President of Harvard." However the historical implications of her presidency are hard to ignore. Not only is Faust the first woman president, she is also the first President of Harvard who does not possess a Harvard degree since 1672. Her background as a historian has been shared by only two others in Harvard's long and distinguished history. An expert of the American South, her six years at Radcliffe, make her an odd, but certainly qualified candidate to lead the university.
Faust is expected to start her term on July 1, 2007. James R. Houghton, Harvard University '58, sent out an email saying, "Drew is an inspiring and accomplished institutional leader, a superb scholar, an outstanding teacher and a wonderful human being." Houghton added, "Harvard wil benefit from her experience…energy and her wisdom."
Former President Summers knows Faust well, as she headed the two gender diversity task forces he was asked to create in the stunning wake of his comments two years. Summers complimented the selection of the Radcliffe dean, saying that she "is an outstanding scholar" and that he looks forward "to the great things that the Harvard community will accomplish in the years ahead." Interim President Derek C. Bok has called her an "excellent choice."
Summers announced his resignation on February 21, 2006 and the presidential search process lasted nearly a year with many distinguished educational leaders being offered the position. Among them are John W. Etchemendy, Provost of Stanford; Lawrence S. Bacow, President of Tufts and William G. Bowen former president of Princeton University.
Faust joins Princeton University's Shirley Tilghman, Brown University's Ruth J. Simmons and University of Pennsylvania's Amy Gutmann as female presidents of the Ivy League colleges.
Stevens on the other hand, in its roughly 140 years has had six presidents, all male who have come from mainly engineering and science backgrounds.
Faust does not view herself in a historic limelight. She commented, "I'm not the woman president of Harvard; I'm the President of Harvard." However the historical implications of her presidency are hard to ignore. Not only is Faust the first woman president, she is also the first President of Harvard who does not possess a Harvard degree since 1672. Her background as a historian has been shared by only two others in Harvard's long and distinguished history. An expert of the American South, her six years at Radcliffe, make her an odd, but certainly qualified candidate to lead the university.
Faust is expected to start her term on July 1, 2007. James R. Houghton, Harvard University '58, sent out an email saying, "Drew is an inspiring and accomplished institutional leader, a superb scholar, an outstanding teacher and a wonderful human being." Houghton added, "Harvard wil benefit from her experience…energy and her wisdom."
Former President Summers knows Faust well, as she headed the two gender diversity task forces he was asked to create in the stunning wake of his comments two years. Summers complimented the selection of the Radcliffe dean, saying that she "is an outstanding scholar" and that he looks forward "to the great things that the Harvard community will accomplish in the years ahead." Interim President Derek C. Bok has called her an "excellent choice."
Summers announced his resignation on February 21, 2006 and the presidential search process lasted nearly a year with many distinguished educational leaders being offered the position. Among them are John W. Etchemendy, Provost of Stanford; Lawrence S. Bacow, President of Tufts and William G. Bowen former president of Princeton University.
Faust joins Princeton University's Shirley Tilghman, Brown University's Ruth J. Simmons and University of Pennsylvania's Amy Gutmann as female presidents of the Ivy League colleges.
Stevens on the other hand, in its roughly 140 years has had six presidents, all male who have come from mainly engineering and science backgrounds.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Kim Dikovics
posted 3/04/07 @ 3:23 PM EST
Nice article, but I'm disappointed that there's a grammatical error in the headline of all places. It should read "Harvard appoints first woman president" since there's only one of her. (Continued…)
Sheeraz Hyder
posted 3/04/07 @ 6:53 PM EST
all fixed now.
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