Ruth J. Simmons to receive Radcliffe Medal - Harvard Gazette

"Throughout her distinguished career, Simmons has modeled extraordinary and transformative leadership in higher education. A three-time university president who has shaped generations of students and scholars, Simmons has championed the power of education while calling on colleges and universities to uphold their foundational ideals and reckon honestly with their failures, demonstrating an uncommon steadfastness in the face of daunting pressures."

"Through her fearless, principled leadership, she has had a transformative impact both on institutions that reflect the breadth of American colleges and universities and on the students and society they serve."

Ruth J. Simmons, a three-time university president, is being awarded the Radcliffe Medal by Harvard Radcliffe Institute on May 29. Throughout her career, Simmons has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in higher education, shaping generations of students and scholars while advocating for colleges and universities to uphold their foundational ideals and confront their failures honestly. Known by her student-given nickname "Ruth the Truth," she has maintained steadfast principles despite significant pressures. The Radcliffe Day awards program features testimonials from author James McBride and former first lady Michelle Obama, a keynote conversation with Harvard President Emerita Drew Gilpin Faust, and the formal presentation by Radcliffe Dean Tomiko Brown-Nagin. The Radcliffe Medal, first awarded to Lena Horne in 1987, recognizes individuals embodying excellence and impact.

Read at Harvard Gazette