Claudine Gay, Harvard University's newest president, made history on Friday as the first Black person and second woman to assume this prestigious role. Speaking before an audience huddled under umbrellas to escape the rain, Gay expressed her humility and determination in leading Harvard.
"I stand before you today humbled by the prospect of leading Harvard, emboldened by the trust you have placed in me, and energized by your own commitment to this singular institution and to the common cause of higher education," she stated.
Gay also emphasized the importance of courage at Harvard, highlighting the university's historical resolve to challenge the status quo and envision a better world. "The courage of this University - our resolve, against all odds - to question the world as it is and imagine and make a better one: It is what Harvard was made to do," she noted.
Furthermore, Gay emphasized the significance of diversity in enriching campus life. "We embrace diversity - of backgrounds, lived experiences, and perspectives - as an institutional imperative," she asserted. "When we do that, it's not with a secret hope for calm or consensus. It's because we believe in the value of dynamic engagement and the learning that happens when ideas and opinions collide."
Claudine Gay assumes the role of the 30th president in Harvard University's storied history, which dates back to its founding in 1640.
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