October 4th 2023.
The world has praised Harvard University for inaugurating Claudine Gay as the first Black person to serve as president of the private Ivy League school. CNN reported that she is the second woman and the 30th person in history to be appointed to the position. It is a significant milestone for the University since it opened in 1640. Harvard Corporation, the University’s principal governing board, made the appointment after an extensive search.
Gay is the daughter of Haitian immigrants, who encouraged her academic endeavors. She earned an Economics degree from Stanford University and became an Associate Professor at the University in the 2000s. Her achievements include vice president of the Midwest Political Science Association and trustee of Phillips Exeter Academy.
During her inauguration speech on Sept. 29, Gay shared her gratitude for the trust the University had in her. She also shared a glimpse of her vision for the University. “The courage of this University—our resolve, against all odds—to question the world as it is and imagine and make a better one: It is what Harvard was made to do,” she said.
The appointment of Claudine Gay has attracted admiration for its representation and for the accomplishments of the new president. Massachusetts governor and Harvard alumnus, Maura Healey, welcomed her with, “President Gay, your presidency is truly historic. You have my admiration and support.” Lawrence Bacow, the outgoing president, expressed approval of the new appointment, saying, “Claudine is a person of bedrock integrity. She will provide Harvard with the strong moral compass necessary to lead this great university. The search committee has made an inspired choice for our 30th president. Under Claudine Gay’s leadership, Harvard’s future is very bright.”
Gay is not a stranger to the Harvard family. In 1998, she received her Ph.D. from the university, where she wrote a dissertation in Political Science and received the Harvard Toppan Prize. Eight years later, she became a faculty member. Before her presidency, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported that she was the Dean of Social Sciences at Harvard. Gay also launched an initiative called Inequality in America to analyze social and economic inequality in the U.S.
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