Dr. Melissa L. Gilliam, made history Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2023, when she was named the first Black and female president of the 184-year-old Boston University.
She is a graduate of Yale University with a Bachelor’s degree in English literature from Yale University, a Master of Arts degree in philosophy and politics from the University of Oxford, a medical degree from Harvard University, and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Illinois Chicago.
With an extensive background as a physician, professor, and executive, Gilliam brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new post.
An accomplished pediatric, gynecologist, and scholar, Gilliam, 58, was the first woman of color to serve as provost of Ohio State University.
On July 1, 2024, Gilliam will begin her tenure as the 11th president of Boston University where she pledged to lead “by listening, collaborating, and empowering other people.”
Not long ago, another Black woman, Professor Claudine Gay, made history by becoming the first Black person and second woman to lead the prestigious Harvard University.
In her moving speech, the 30th president since Harvard University’s founding in 1640 outlined her vision for the Ivy League school.
“We embrace diversity – of backgrounds, lived experiences, and perspectives – as an institutional imperative,” she said. “When we do that, it’s not with a secret hope for calm or consensus. It’s because we believe in the value of dynamic engagement and the learning that happens when ideas and opinions collide.”
She delivered her address to an audience sheltering from rain under a sea of umbrellas.
“I stand before you today, humbled by the prospect of leading Harvard, emboldened by the trust you have placed in me and energized by your own commitment to this singular institution and to the common cause of higher education,” Gay said.
She also talked about courage, the courage of Harvard to question the world as it is and imagine and make it a better one.
