Ruth Simmons

Ruth Simmons is a distinguished American professor and academic administrator whose career has significantly impacted higher education. She served as the eighth president of Prairie View A&M University from 2017 to 2023, where she focused on enhancing the university’s financial stability and fundraising efforts. Under her leadership, donations to the university increased by 40%, demonstrating her commitment to sustaining excellence in teaching and research at this historically Black university.

Prior to her role at Prairie View A&M, Simmons made history as the first African-American president of an Ivy League institution when she became the 18th president of Brown University from 2001 to 2012. During her tenure, she launched the ambitious $1.4 billion “Boldly Brown” campaign, which ultimately raised $1.61 billion, surpassing its original goal. Her leadership at Brown was recognized when Time magazine named her the best college president, highlighting her transformative impact on the institution.

Before her presidency at Brown, Simmons was the president of Smith College from 1995 to 2001, where she initiated the first accredited engineering program at an all-women’s college in the United States. Her innovative approach to education and commitment to diversity and inclusion have been hallmarks of her career, earning her numerous accolades and over thirty honorary degrees.

Simmons has also served on various prestigious boards, including Goldman Sachs and Pfizer, and has been recognized with awards such as CBS’s Woman of the Year and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Her contributions to academia and society continue to inspire future generations of leaders.