Harvard University: Woman Named as First Black President In School's 386-Year-History

• Political scientist, Prof Claudine Gay, has been appointed the first Black president of Harvard University
• She also makes history as the second woman to ever hold the title in the university's 386-year existence
• The trailblazer is the daughter of Haitian immigrants and holds a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and a PhD from Harvard

Political scientist, Prof Claudine Gay, has made history after Harvard University named her the first Black president of the establishment.

The trailblazer has become the 30th president in the institution's nearly four-century history. Gay succeeds the current Harvard President, Lawrence Bacow, who recently announced his departure after five years in office.

Claudine Gay's academic and career milestones

The daughter of Haitian immigrants has a bachelor's degree in Economics from Stanford University and a PhD in Government from Harvard, according to Washington Post.

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She has received the Toppan Prize for Best Political Science Dissertation, per Becauseofthemwecan.

Gay previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences since 2018 and is a chief scholar on issues about race, politics, and political behavior in America. She serves as the founding chair of the Inequality in America Initiative, an endeavour launched in 2017 with a focus on encouraging teaching and research on social and economic inequality.

Gay will ascend to the position as the new University President in July 2023, making her the second woman ever to hold the title.

Claudine Gay speaks about becoming first Black president of Harvard

Speaking about her appointment, Gay said there is urgency for ''Harvard to engage with the world and to bring bold, brave, pioneering thinking to our greatest challenges''.

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''With the strength of this extraordinary institution behind us, we enter a moment of possibility, one that calls for deeper collaboration across the University, across all of our remarkable Schools,'' she said.

Brilliant African-American Girl is First Black Valedictorian in 138-Year History of Beaumont High School

Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh previously reported that a young lady, Taryn Thomas, made history as the first Black valedictorian in her school's 138-year history.

Thomas joined hundreds to graduate from Beaumont High School with pride as she imprinted her name in the sands of time. Speaking on graduation day, the prodigy bemoaned inequality and stereotypes she faced in school in her valedictory speech.

Source: YEN.com.gh