KPLU Local News
(2004-08-27)
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BOSTON, MA
(WBUR) -
For the first time since the Massachusetts institute of technology started admitting students in 1865, the school will has named its first female president. Doctor Susan Hockfield will take office this December. As a neuroscientist, she'll also be the first MIT president with a background in life sciences.MIT search committee members say their choice reveals the school's hopes: that Hockfield can bridge the gap between MIT's powerful engineering disciplines and its burgeoning life and social sciences programs. Hockfield says she's up to the challenge:
While MIT administrators say their presidential search was gender blind, in recent years the school has admitted it needs to do a better job in fostering gender equality in its leadership. Six years ago, MIT President Charles Vest acknowledged that MIT was discriminating against female faculty members in pay, research support, and recognition.
The school has boosted the number of female professors to 169, though women still only make up 18 percent of the faculty, at a school where 42 percent of the students are female.
Hockfield says that percentage is likely to increase in her tenure.
Hockfield comes to MIT after spending almost 20 years at Yale University, where she served most recently as provost and dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. At Yale, Hockfield was known for her open manner with students.
She says that during MIT's presidential selection process, she heard from students and school leaders, about what they say are the biggest challenges facing the school now.
Doctor Susan Hockfield takes her post at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in December. She'll be the school's 16th president.
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