Washington, D.C. – The American Association of University Women applauds Harvard University’s appointment of Drew Gilpin Faust as its first female president.
"AAUW has been advocating on behalf of women for 125 years by working to remove educational and professional barriers and we applaud Harvard's decision and extend our congratulations to Dr. Faust," said AAUW President Ruth Sweetser. "After former president Summers' controversial comments about 'innate differences' between the sexes, there was a heightened awareness of the need for changed attitudes about women in higher education and the appointment of Dr. Faust indicates that awareness was not only raised, but resulted in positive action."
In 2006, just 23 percent of college presidents were women, according to the American Council on Education. While that percentage has increased from 9.5 percent in 1986, it is clear that women are still underrepresented in this realm of academia.
"All too often universities fall prisoner to conventions and even stereotypical ideas about leadership that unnecessarily limit their options - and which put female candidates at a disadvantage," Sweetser said. "Today, Harvard notably broke with the tradition of only male presidents and made strides to break the glass ceiling in yet another career field where women are historically underrepresented. AAUW is confident they will be the better for it."
Read AAUW's congratulatory letter to Dr. Faust.
For more information, contact Rebecca Leaf, senior media relations associate at 202/785-7738 or leafr@aauw.org; or Ashley Carr, director of communications at 202/785/7745 or carra@aauw.org.
