Dr. Minouche Shafik is Inaugurated as Columbia University's First Woman President
AFPC-USA Chairwoman Nancy Prager-Kamel attended Dr. Shafik’s inauguration. The following is her account of the event.
A perfect sunny day blessed the 20th presidential invocation in Columbia University‘s 269-year history.
October 4 was an auspicious occasion as Columbia University’s new president, Dr. Minouche Shafik, was inaugurated, a rare event in the school’s long history. The event was made especially memorable by the fact that this was the first woman to become this venerable institution's new president.
Founded in 1754 as King's College, the university's first president was Samuel Johnson, who held the office from 1754 to 1763. It was renamed Columbia College when it reopened in 1784 after the American Revolution. Columbia College was an undergraduate liberal arts school for men until 1983, when women began to be admitted. It became known as Columbia University in 1912.
Dr. Minouche Shafik
Among the diversified schools represented is the famed Columbia School of Journalism. This renowned school has—both past and present—yielded much recognition and is honored to be the home of the Pulitzer Prize, an award honoring achievements in newspapers, magazines and online journalism, literature, and musical composition. There have been over 90 Pulitzer Prizes awarded to Columbia University alumni.
This glorious day was filled with tradition, pomp, and circumstance amid the ambient noise of scripted protesters, marching for the United Auto Workers (UAW) union just outside. The audience was composed of trustees, the board of directors, heads of the individual colleges, and professors, with a sprinkling of local and world-renowned dignitaries. The ceremony was given the feeling of energy and inclusiveness by two talented and inspirational young groups of singers who performed. We had the honor to be included, upfront and personal with the family, and shared in their pride and recognition.
Adding to the timely choice as Columbia’s first female president is the international diversity that her Egyptian birth provides an institution already committed to diversity and inclusion. The family was forced to leave Egypt in the 1960s due to President Gamal Abdel Nasser’s restrictive government policies. Dr Shafik pursued her education in the United States and in the United Kingdom. She completed her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, her Master of Science in politics and economics at the London School of Economics, and her Doctor of Philosophy in economics at the University of Oxford.
Christine Lagarde
Baroness Minouche Shafik is a distinguished economist with a career that has spanned public policy and academia. Her past positions include Director of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), her tenure as the youngest-ever Vice President of the World Bank, the permanent secretary of the U.K. Department for International Development, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England.
Dr. Shafik has authored, edited, and co-authored a number of books and articles. Her most recent book, What We Owe Each Other: A New Social Contract was published in 2021. It makes a compelling statement on our interconnectivity and recalibrates participation in a social contract, in which we all support one another in order to mutually thrive.
Christine Lagarde, France’s first female Finance Minister, was present, front and center, to bestow an official welcome upon Dr. Shafik on behalf of the entire population of Columbia University. They had worked closely together as Leader and Deputy of the IMF respectfully. Dr. Shafik was formally presented with the oath of office to the overwhelmingly delight of the audience.
The election of Dr. Shafik, whose tenure began on July 1, 2023, heralds a new chapter that truly symbolizes Columbia University’s commitment to the pronounced promises of creating a more inclusive, representational, and equally vibrant environment.
