Vartan Gregorian

Ruth Simmons is a person of high integrity and great leadership qualities

Vartan Gregorian served as Brown’s 16^th president, from 1989 until 1997. He is president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Vartan Gregorian, Brown’s 16^th president and now president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, issued the following statement:

I am proud that Brown University has chosen Ruth Simmons as its 18^th president. She is a person of high integrity and great leadership qualities. Dr. Simmons is an outstanding educator and distinguished college administrator with a proven record of accomplishments. She is tough and independent-minded, attributes that will serve her and Brown well. Her personal experiences both as a student and scholar, as well as her administrative roles at institutions such as the University of Southern California, Princeton University and Spelman and Smith Colleges, have given her a unique perspective on both public and private, small and large institutions of higher education. She appreciates the importance and complexity of the role of higher education in American life in general and that of the liberal arts in particular.

Dr. Simmons serves as a member of the Carnegie Corporation of New York’s Board of Trustees, where I have had the pleasure of working closely with her for the last 16 months. I believe the curiosity, insight, discipline and intelligence she has shared with us as an active member of our board will make a difference at Brown for the students, faculty and administration. On behalf of Carnegie Corporation, its trustees and its staff, I extend our warmest congratulations to Dr. Simmons.