Ruth Simmons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ruth Simmons
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Simmons in 2001
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| 8th President of Prairie View A&M University | |
| In office July 1, 2017 – February 28, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | George Wright |
| Succeeded by | Tomikia P. LeGrande |
| 18th President of Brown University | |
| In office October 14, 2001 – June 30, 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Gordon Gee |
| Succeeded by | Christina Paxson |
| 9th President of Smith College | |
| In office 1995–2001 |
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| Preceded by | Mary Maples Dunn |
| Succeeded by | Carol T. Christ |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ruth Jean Stubblefield
July 3, 1945 Grapeland, Texas, U.S. |
| Spouse | Norbert Alonzo |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Dillard University (BA) Harvard University (MA, PhD) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions |
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| Thesis | The poetic language of Aime Cesaire (1973) |
Ruth Simmons (born Ruth Jean Stubblefield, July 3, 1945) is an American professor and a leader in education. She has been the president of several important universities. From 2017 to 2023, Simmons was the eighth president of Prairie View A&M University. This is a Historically Black University (HBCU), which means it was founded to serve African American students.
Before that, from 2001 to 2012, she was the 18th president of Brown University. Brown is one of the famous Ivy League schools, known for their high academic standards. Ruth Simmons was the first African American president of an Ivy League university. During her time at Brown, Time magazine called her the best college president.
Even earlier, starting in 1995, she led Smith College. Smith College is one of the Seven Sisters colleges, which are historic women's colleges in the United States. It is also the largest women's college in the country. While she was president, Smith College started the first engineering program at a college just for women.
Simmons is also a professor who specializes in literature, especially from countries where Romance languages (like French or Spanish) are spoken. She is a member of important groups like the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She also received a special honor from France called Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor.
In February 2023, Simmons shared her plans to help Harvard University work better with HBCUs. Since April 2023, she has been a special fellow at Rice University.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ruth Simmons was born in Grapeland, Texas. She was the youngest of 12 children. Her parents were Fanny and Isaac Stubblefield. Her father worked as a sharecropper, which means he farmed land owned by someone else and paid rent with a share of his crops. Later, her family moved to Houston when she was in school. Her family has roots in both Africa and among the native peoples of America.
While she was in school, one of her teachers, Vernell Lillie, encouraged her to think about going to college. Ruth had never considered it before. She earned her bachelor's degree (her first college degree) from Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1967. She received a scholarship to help pay for her studies.
She then went on to earn her master's and a doctorate (the highest college degree) in literature from Harvard University. She completed her master's in 1970 and her doctorate in 1973.
Career Highlights
Early Roles in Education
After finishing her studies, Simmons worked as a professor of French at the University of New Orleans from 1973 to 1976. She also helped lead the College of Liberal Arts there.
She then moved to California State University, Northridge in 1977. She helped manage a project focused on liberal arts studies. From 1978 to 1979, she was also in charge of the university's international programs.
In 1979, Simmons joined the University of Southern California. She worked in the graduate studies department, helping students who were working on their master's and doctorate degrees.
In 1983, she moved to Princeton University, another Ivy League school. There, she served as an assistant dean and later an associate dean of faculty until 1990.
Simmons then became the provost (a senior academic officer) at Spelman College from 1990 to 1991. After that, she returned to Princeton and served as vice provost from 1992 to 1995.
Leading Smith College
In 1995, Ruth Simmons was chosen to be the president of Smith College. She led the college until 2001. As president, she helped Smith College start the first engineering program at a women's college in the United States. This was a big step for women in engineering!
Leading Brown University
In November 2000, Ruth Simmons made history. She was named the first African American woman to lead an Ivy League school. She officially became president of Brown University in October 2001. She also taught classes in comparative literature and Africana studies.
In 2002, Ms. magazine named her a Woman of the Year. In 2001, Time magazine called her America's best college president.
At Brown, she started a big fundraising effort called Boldly Brown: The Campaign for Academic Enrichment. The goal was to raise $1.4 billion to make Brown's academic programs even better. The campaign actually raised more than its goal, collecting $1.61 billion!
- In 2004, a former Brown student named Sidney E. Frank gave $120 million to the university. This was the largest single gift Brown had ever received.
- In 2007, another generous person, Warren Alpert, gave $100 million to help the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown.
In 2006, Simmons said she was not interested in becoming president of Harvard University. However, a 2007 New York Times article mentioned her as a possible candidate for the job.
In August 2007, Simmons was invited to give an important speech at the Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island. She spoke about religious freedom, following a historic letter from George Washington in 1790.
A poll in March 2009 showed that more than 80% of Brown students approved of Simmons's leadership.
In September 2011, Simmons announced she would step down as Brown's president at the end of the 2011–12 school year. She was replaced by Christina Paxson on June 30, 2012.
Brown University's Look at Slavery
In 2003, Simmons created a special committee at Brown University. This committee was asked to study the university's past connections to the transatlantic slave trade. In 2006, the committee published a report about Brown's history with slavery.
In February 2007, Simmons gave a lecture at St. John's College, Cambridge, in England. She spoke about slavery and justice in Rhode Island, where Brown University is located. Brown University also published its official response to the committee's report.
International Efforts at Brown
Simmons also worked to make Brown University more connected to the world. In October 2007, she appointed David W. Kennedy to lead international affairs.
Brown University and Banco Santander from Spain started a series of research programs. These programs brought young scholars from developing countries to Brown. In March 2010, Simmons traveled to India as part of a "Year of India" program. This program aimed to help Brown students and teachers learn more about India's history, politics, and culture.
Leading Prairie View A&M University
In 2017, after five years of retirement, Ruth Simmons accepted an offer to become the interim president of Prairie View A&M University. This is an HBCU in her home state of Texas. She served as interim president from July 1, 2017, to December 3, 2017. On December 4, 2017, she was officially chosen as the eighth president of Prairie View A&M University. She was the first woman to hold this position.
At Prairie View A&M, Simmons focused on making the university financially stronger. She worked to raise money, including through an anonymous donor, for "Panther Success Grants" for students. Her goal was to make sure the university continued to be excellent in teaching, research, and service for many years to come. She wanted to raise funds in new ways so the university could grow and become more visible.
On March 11, 2022, Simmons announced that she would retire from her role as president once a new leader was chosen. In 2022, Prairie View A&M announced that during Simmons's five years as president, scholarships had increased, and donations to the university had grown by 40%.
Awards and Honors
Ruth Simmons has received many awards and honors for her work in education:
- She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society.
- In 2000, she received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.
- On June 17, 2009, President Barack Obama appointed Dr. Simmons to the President's Commission on White House Fellowships.
- On January 16, 2010, she received a BET Honors award for her service as president of Brown University.
- In 2010, she was given the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for her many efforts to help others.
- In 2012, Brown University renamed a field on its campus in her honor, calling it the Ruth J. Simmons Quadrangle.
- Also in 2012, Simmons received special honorary doctorates from several universities, including Mt. Sinai School of Medicine and the University of Houston.
- She was named a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor in 2012, a high honor from France.
- In 2021, she was chosen for the first-ever Forbes 50 Over 50 list, which highlights successful leaders over the age of 50.
- In 2023, Brown University renamed its Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice in her honor.
- Also in 2023, Simmons gave the Jefferson Lecture in the Humanities at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
- In 2024, Simmons was elected as a member of the Texas Institute of Letters.
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