News & Views item - September 2012 |
After 11-Years, Princeton University's Shirley Tilghman to Retire as President. (September 25, 2012)
Of the eight universities that constitute the United States' Ivy League, four have a woman as president -- Christina Paxson (Brown), Drew Gilpin Faust (Harvard), Amy Gutmann (Pennsylvania), and Shirley Tilghman (Princeton) who is the longest serving*.
This past Friday Professor Tilghman informed Princeton University's board of trustees that she is submitting her resignation effective the end of the current academic year (June 2013).
During her eleven years as president of Princeton she oversaw a US$1.9 billion fundraising campaign, the creation of a neuroscience institute, strengthening the university's chemistry department, launching energy and environmental programs, and increasing the number of students on financial aid.
On May 9, 2001 TFW wrote:
Princeton's New President - Molecular Biologist Shirley Tilghman (May 9,
2001)
For a double first Princeton University has chosen a
molecular biologist, Shirley Tilghman, to take up its
presidency on June 15th.
At the press conference held immediately following the announcement, Tilghman,
Head of Princeton's Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, and
noted for her studies on the mechanisms of gene activation and deactivation
indicated that she has every intention of treating the sciences and humanities even
handedly
and went on to emphasise that teaching must be coupled with inculcating an
active search for knowledge. One of the points that came out at the press
conference was Princeton's across the board undertaking that it would
open its doors to every talented student, "irrespective of the
ability to pay." No set number of scholarships, instead an open-handed commitment by
this private university seen by many as a refuge for "silver
tails".
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Here we reprint in full Professor Tilghman's letter to the "Princeton University community".
Letter sent by President Shirley M. Tilghman on Sept. 22, 2012
Dear members of the Princeton University community,
Yesterday afternoon I informed the Board of Trustees that I plan to step down as
the 19th President of Princeton University at the end of this academic year. For
the last 11 years I have had the extraordinary privilege of serving as your
president. These years have been joyous ones for me, and the highlight of my
professional career. I will always be grateful for your trust and friendship.
There is a natural rhythm to university presidencies. My own began with a
listening tour in which I scrambled up a very steep learning curve to understand
the complex task of presiding over a modern research university. Those
conversations reinforced for me the qualities that make Princeton such a
distinctive place — a dedication to excellence in everything we do; a pledge to
make education affordable for every talented student we admit; a strong sense of
community on campus and beyond; a devoted alumni body with a commitment to
service as an obligation of receiving a world-class education. I learned about
the many things we do exceedingly well, and must preserve as our first priority,
but I also identified aspects of the University where we could do better, and
where we needed to grow. The middle years were spent formulating plans to effect
those changes, recruiting the champions who would make them happen, and
inspiring the generosity of our remarkable alumni, parents and friends in the
Aspire campaign. With the major priorities accomplished or well on their way to
being realized, and the campaign successfully concluded, it is time for
Princeton to turn to its 20th president to chart the path for the next decade
and beyond.
I am exceedingly proud of what we have accomplished over the past 11 years.
Together we expanded the undergraduate student body, giving more students the
gift of a Princeton education, and launched the four-year college system. We
greatly increased the number of students on financial aid, and more than doubled
the average aid they received. We created a master plan for the future
development of the campus that has guided our thinking about architecture,
landscaping and sustainability. We echoed the evocative beauty of the historic
campus with the addition of Whitman College, while moving briskly into the 21st
century with the Lewis Library and Sherrerd Hall. We created the Lewis Center
for the Arts, and brought the creative and performing arts into their rightful
place at the center of the curriculum so that art is happening everywhere you
turn on campus. Undergraduates and graduate students are enthusiastically
pursuing the study of the brain in our new Princeton Neuroscience Institute, and
the Department of Chemistry has undergone a radical makeover in the new Frick
Laboratory by recruiting a new generation of world-class faculty. The Center for
African American Studies has leapt into the forefront of the field, defining how
ethnic studies will be conceived in the future. Princeton is increasingly
looking outward with a global perspective, as reflected in Bridge Year students
spending their first year as Princetonians abroad, or in Global Seminar students
studying with Princeton faculty all around the world during the summer. The
humanities are thriving, with undergraduate and graduate students pursuing
certificates in humanistic studies, and faculty publishing ground-breaking
books. We rose to the great 21st century challenge of sustaining life on the
planet by creating the Grand Challenges Program in the Princeton Environmental
Institute and founding the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment. We
had challenging conversations around the relationship between the University and
the eating clubs, and the rightful place for Greek organizations on campus, but
those conversations have been conducted with the best interests of Princeton's
students foremost in our minds. I believe that together we have made Princeton a
stronger and more vibrant University.
In the coming year I look forward to thanking the many individuals who
contributed in so many ways to the University's progress. To my faculty
colleagues, it has been a great privilege to work alongside you as you defined
your disciplines and educated the next generation. To the staff, who so often
work behind the scenes, I am amazed by your enduring loyalty and hard work, in
good times but especially in the challenging times in the recession. To my
colleagues in the senior administration, no one could have asked for better
colleagues, whose good judgment, good nature and effectiveness guarantee that
this University deserves its reputation for being well managed. And to the past
and present members of the Board of Trustees, I have benefited every day from
your passionate devotion, sustained support and wisdom. To our outstanding
alumni body, a truly raucous locomotive for working so hard for and caring so
deeply about your alma mater, and the next generation of its students. And to
Princeton's students, you have inspired and challenged me; entertained and
educated me; surprised and motivated me at every turn. You are my hope for the
future.
I intend to take a year's leave, and return to the faculty and to my other
passion — teaching — in the years to come. In the meantime, there is still a lot
to do this year!
Sincerely,
Shirley M. Tilghman
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*Ruth Simmons immediately preceded Christina Paxson at Brown while Judith Rodin, the first female Ivy League President, was the immediate predecessor of Amy Gutmann at Penn.
As regards Australia's Group of Eight (sandstone) universities, previously Fay Gale was vice chancellor of The University of Western Australia (1990-97) and Mary O'Kane held the position at The University of Adelaide (1996-2001). Currently Debbie Terry temporarily holds the vice-chancellorship of The University of Queensland until Peter Høj takes up the post on October 8, 2012.