Claudine Gay

I was at Claudine Gay’s inauguration as Harvard’s 30th president. I saw her family waving Haitian flags. I stood between a college administrator from Japan, there to celebrate her, and two Stanford faculty who taught her. Literally, the world watched Gay at the apex of her career.

Capping off a stunning series of events, Claudine Gay, the first Black woman to ever lead Harvard University, announced Tuesday that she is resigning from the presidency after less than six months on the job.

The Harvard faculty, staff and board of trustees should be applauded for standing in support of President Gay. Let’s hope Harvard’s first Black president can continue to receive the support she deserves for her illustrious career and lifetime commitment to higher education. 

Claudine Gay, an acclaimed political scientist and proven administrator in the trench warfare of higher education, was elevated last week to the pinnacle of the ivory tower, becoming the first African American to lead Harvard University in the school’s fourth century of existence.