Drew Gilpin Faust
Drew Gilpin Faust: A Pioneering Historian and Leader
Full Name and Common Aliases
Drew Gilpin Faust is an American historian, academic administrator, and former President of Harvard University.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on September 18, 1949
Nationality and Profession(s)
American historian and academic administrator (former President of Harvard University)
Early Life and Background
Drew Gilpin Faust was born in 1949 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She grew up in a family that valued education and instilled in her a passion for learning from an early age. Faust's interest in history was sparked by her parents' influence, who encouraged her to explore the past and its significance in shaping the present.
Faust attended the prestigious boarding school, Stoneleigh-Burnham School in Greenfield, Massachusetts. After graduating at the top of her class, she went on to attend Johns Hopkins University, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in history in 1971. Faust then pursued her graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania, earning a Master's degree in 1973 and a Ph.D. in American History in 1977.
Major Accomplishments
Faust's academic career has been marked by numerous accomplishments that have earned her recognition as one of the leading historians of her generation. Her research focuses on the Civil War era, Reconstruction, and the history of women in America. Faust's work has been praised for its depth, nuance, and originality.
Some of her notable publications include:
"Mothers of Invention: Women of the Slaveholding South in the American Civil War" (1996) - a seminal work that explores the experiences of white women in the slaveholding South during the Civil War.
"The Creation of Professors: Higher Education in America" (1980) - a study on the development of higher education in America.
Faust's leadership skills and commitment to advancing women's roles in academia have earned her numerous awards and accolades. In 2007, she was elected as the first female President of Harvard University, becoming one of the most influential women in American higher education.
Notable Works or Actions
As President of Harvard University, Faust has been a strong advocate for academic excellence, social justice, and diversity. Some notable initiatives during her tenure include:
Diversifying the faculty: Faust launched a comprehensive effort to increase the representation of underrepresented groups among Harvard's faculty.
Expanding financial aid: She oversaw significant increases in financial aid packages to make Harvard more accessible to students from low-income backgrounds.
* Fostering global engagement: Faust has prioritized international collaboration, leading initiatives such as Harvard's "Open Learning" program and partnerships with universities worldwide.
Impact and Legacy
Drew Gilpin Faust's impact on academia is multifaceted. As a historian, she has shed new light on the experiences of women in America during times of war and social change. Her research has not only expanded our understanding of the past but also inspired generations of scholars to pursue careers in history.
As President of Harvard University, Faust has led by example, breaking down barriers for women in leadership positions while advocating for greater diversity and inclusivity on campus. Her commitment to academic excellence, social justice, and global engagement will be remembered as a hallmark of her presidency.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Drew Gilpin Faust is widely quoted and remembered for her groundbreaking research, pioneering leadership in academia, and tireless advocacy for women's empowerment and social justice. As one of the most influential historians and leaders of our time, her legacy will continue to inspire scholars, policymakers, and future generations of leaders.
Quotes by Drew Gilpin Faust
The ability to recognize opportunities and move in new - and sometimes unexpected - directions will benefit you no matter your interests or aspirations. A liberal arts education is designed to equip students for just such flexibility and imagination.
Working women seemed “brazen,” even to those like Lila Chunn who understood and encouraged necessary departures from tradition.
Death has no power to change moral qualities,” he insisted in a Decoration Day speech in 1883. “Whatever else I may forget,” the aging abolitionist declared, “I shall never forget the difference between those who fought for liberty and those who fought for slavery.
Yankee private Henry Struble was not only listed as a casualty after Antietam but assigned a grave after his canteen was found in the hands of a dead man he had stopped to help. After the war ended, Struble sent flowers every Memorial Day to decorate his own grave, to honor the unknown soldier it sheltered and perhaps to acknowledge that there but for God’s grace he might lie.
Leadership is about moving people from where they are to where you hope they’ll go.
A university is not about results in the next quarter; it is not even about who a student has become by graduation. It is about learning that molds a lifetime, learning that transmits the heritage of millennia; learning that shapes the future.
I often read nonfiction with a pencil in hand. I love the feel, the smell, the design, the weight of a book, but I also enjoy the convenience of my Kindle – for travel and for procuring a book in seconds.
The ability to recognize opportunities and move in new – and sometimes unexpected – directions will benefit you no matter your interests or aspirations.
If you don’t pursue what you think will be most meaningful, you will regret it. Life is long. There is always time for Plan B. But don’t begin with it.