Ruth J. Simmons
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| Ruth J. Simmons | |
| 18th President of Brown University | |
|---|---|
| Term | 2001 – present |
| Predecessor | Gordon Gee |
| Born | 1945 Grapeland, Texas |
| Alumna of | Dillard University |
Ruth J. Simmons (1945- ) born in Grapeland, Texas, is the 18th president of Brown University and first black president of an Ivy League institution. Her students often affectionately refer to her by her first name and love her red power suits.
Simmons holds appointments as a professor in the Departments of Comparative Literature and Africana Studies. In 2002, Newsweek selected her as a Ms. Woman of the Year, while in 2001, Time named her as America's best college president. She is a native of Texas, graduated from Dillard University, B.A. 1967 in New Orleans, and got her doctorate in Romance Literature from Harvard University, A.M. 1970; PhD 1973. She was a professor of Romance Languages and became a dean at Princeton University, 1983-1990, became first African-American woman to head a top ranked college or university as president of Smith College (from 1995 to 2001), and ultimately president of Brown in 2001.
Simmons started the engineering program at Smith. At Brown, she has launched an ambitious $1.4 billion initiative known as the Campaign for Academic Enrichment in order to enhance Brown’s academic programs.
In 2006 at an orientation meeting with parents, Simmons denied interest in the presidency of Harvard University, which is currently headed by an interim president, Derek Bok. Nevertheless, coverage has indicated that the Harvard Corporation, responsible for selecting the University's replacement for former Lawrence Summers is considering her as a candidate. [citation needed]
Simmons also serves on the boards of Texas Instruments, Pfizer Inc., and Goldman Sachs.
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| Preceded by: Gordon Gee |
President of Brown University 2001 – present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by: Mary Maples Dunn |
President of Smith College 1988-2001 |
Succeeded by: Carol Christ |
