MIT Names Its First Female President
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology named Yale Provost Susan Hockfield as its new president -- the first woman to hold the job at the prestigious science university where men overwhelmingly dominate the faculty and the student body.
While the appointment of a female university president is no longer exceptional, it is at MIT, which in 1999 acknowledged past discrimination and has since made significant efforts to improve prospects for women.
The appointment is also significant because of Hockfield’s academic background: A brain expert, she will be the first life scientist to serve as president in the 140-year history of the school, traditionally known for its expertise in engineering, physics and chemistry.
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