Vassar’s 3rd Woman President

Vassar College today announced the appointment of Frances Fergusson, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Bucknell University, as its ninth president.

Fergusson, 41, a graduate of Wellesley College who received her Ph.D. in art history from Harvard, replaces Virginia Smith, who is leaving to enter private business after nine years as head of the 2,250-student college. Fergusson, who will take over July 1, will be Vassar’s third woman president in its 125-year history.