米兰体育

Skip to content
NOWCAST 米兰体育 13 5pm Newscast
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Harvard University's first Black president, Claudine Gay, takes oath

Harvard University's first Black president, Claudine Gay, takes oath
HARVARD鈥橲 CULTURE IS BEING RESHAPED BEFORE OUR EYES. THE FIRST BLACK ED ONLY THE SECOND WOMAN IS INAUGURATED AS HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT. I STAND BEFORE YOU ON THIS STAGE WITH THE WEIGHT AND THE HONOR OF BEING A FIRST ASIAN TO SAY I AM CLAUDINE GAY. THE PRESIDENT OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY. THE DOWNPOUR SYMBOLIC OF THE RESILIENCE REQUIRED TO NAVIGATE POLITICAL STORMS AHEAD. IT IS A GAME CHANGER IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING AROUND DIVERSITY, BRING PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE WHO UNDERSTAND AND HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY AROUND IMPACTING THE DIVERSITY WITHIN THEIR INSTITUTION. PUT THEM IN CHARGE. I EARNED MY DOCTORATE HERE AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY. DR. DOUGLAS, THE STATE鈥橲 FIRST BLACK WOMAN CABINET MEMBER, A FORMER SECRETARY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND BUSINESS REGULATIONS, IS AN INAUGURAL GUESS. SHE SHARES PHOTOS FROM LAST NIGHT鈥橲 PARTY WITH PRESIDENT GAY AT THE PRESENTATION BEGAN BEN WITH A HAITIAN SONG WITH THE TRADITIONAL INSTRUMENTS AND REALLY CALLING UP HER HERITAGE. BUT I THINK IT鈥橲 THOUGHT OF AS SUCH A PLACE OF LIKE OLD WHITE MEN, UNDERGRADS ARE ALREADY PROUD, KIND OF REASSURING TO SEE THAT IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A WOMAN TO KIND OF BE IN A POSITION LIKE THAT. SHE鈥橲 ONLY 53. TO WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT? I MEAN, AGAIN, IT鈥橲 JUST EVEN MORE ENCOURAGING, I鈥橠 SAY. I THINK IT鈥橲 ABOUT TIME SHE IS VERY IMPRESSIVE AND I THINK I'
Advertisement
Harvard University's first Black president, Claudine Gay, takes oath
Harvard University is welcoming its first Black president since the Cambridge, Massachusetts, school was founded nearly 400 years ago. Claudine Gay, who officially took the oath Friday, has been serving as the university's 30th president since July 1. Not only is she the first Black president, Gay is also only the second woman to lead the university. "I stand before you on this stage with the weight and the honor of being a first, able to say, 'I am Claudine Gay, the president of Harvard University,'" she said Friday. Gay first joined Harvard in 2006 as a professor of government."It is a game changer. If you want to do something around diversity, bring people with lived experience who understand and have a sense of urgency around impacting the diversity within our institution. Put them in charge," said Michael Curry, a NAACP national board member."I earned my doctorate here at Harvard University," said Priscilla Douglas, Boston Public Library chair and author.Douglas, the state's first Black woman cabinet member a former secretary of Consumer Affairs and business regulations, was one of the inaugural guests.Undergrads are already proud."Kind of reassuring to see that it is possible for a woman to kind of be in a position like that," said Harvard senior Diana Shaari. "I think it's about time. She's very impressive. And I think I'm very excited. I think it's a little bit overdue," said freshman Ezekiel Wells.

Harvard University is welcoming its first Black president since the Cambridge, Massachusetts, school was founded nearly 400 years ago.

Claudine Gay, who officially took the oath Friday, has been serving as the university's 30th president since July 1.

Advertisement

Not only is she the first Black president, Gay is also only the second woman to lead the university.

"I stand before you on this stage with the weight and the honor of being a first, able to say, 'I am Claudine Gay, the president of Harvard University,'" she said Friday.

Gay first joined Harvard in 2006 as a professor of government.

"It is a game changer. If you want to do something around diversity, bring people with lived experience who understand and have a sense of urgency around impacting the diversity within our institution. Put them in charge," said Michael Curry, a NAACP national board member.

"I earned my doctorate here at Harvard University," said Priscilla Douglas, Boston Public Library chair and author.

Douglas, the state's first Black woman cabinet member a former secretary of Consumer Affairs and business regulations, was one of the inaugural guests.

Undergrads are already proud.

"Kind of reassuring to see that it is possible for a woman to kind of be in a position like that," said Harvard senior Diana Shaari.

"I think it's about time. She's very impressive. And I think I'm very excited. I think it's a little bit overdue," said freshman Ezekiel Wells.