Harvard Radcliffe Institute announced on Mar. 18 that Ruth J. Simmons will be awarded the Radcliffe Medal on Radcliffe Day, May 29.
The award recognizes Simmons for her leadership and commitment to advancing the ideals of higher education. The Radcliffe Medal is given annually to individuals who embody the institute’s dedication to excellence and impact.
Simmons has served as president at three universities and is known for her transformative influence in higher education. She has encouraged institutions to uphold their core values while addressing their shortcomings, showing determination in challenging circumstances. The awards program will feature a testimonial by author James McBride, a video tribute from former first lady Michelle Obama, a keynote conversation between Simmons and Harvard President Emerita Drew Gilpin Faust, and the formal presentation by Radcliffe Dean Tomiko Brown-Nagin.
Brown-Nagin said, “Ruth J. Simmons’s inspiring personal journey demonstrates the value of community and the power of education. Through her fearless, principled leadership, she has had a transformative impact both on institutions that reflect the breadth of American colleges and universities and on the students and society they serve.”
She added, “I am honored to recognize Ruth Simmons at a moment when the promise of higher education that she has championed over decades — defined by opportunity and openness to difference and debate — is under threat.”
The medal was first awarded in 1987 to Lena Horne. Recent recipients include Ophelia Dahl, Jodie Foster, Melinda French Gates, Dolores Huerta, Sherrilyn Ifill, and Sonia Sotomayor.
