Harvard University has picked its next president. Claudine Gay will become the University’s 30th president. She is only the second woman to have the role and the first Black person ever.
“Claudine is a remarkable leader who is profoundly devoted to sustaining and enhancing Harvard’s academic excellence, to championing both the value and the values of higher education and research, to expanding opportunity, and to strengthening Harvard as a fount of ideas and a force for good in the world,” said Penny Pritzker, Chair of Harvard’s presidential search committee.
Currently Gay is serving as the Edgerley Family Dean of Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Science. She has been in that role since 2008. She will take over as University President on July 1 when the current president, Lawrence Bacow steps down.
When Gay assumes the role, she will be the only Black president at an Ivy League institution.
Watch her acceptance video below.