Our Fearless Future

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For nine months now, I’ve had the honor of serving as the president of Barnard. It was thrilling to stand at the podium at Inauguration and see colleagues, students, alumnae, and my family and friends all together inside Riverside Church. As I said on that special afternoon, the day affirmed what I knew from the first day I set foot on campus — that Barnard is where I am supposed to be.

Paving the path for Barnard’s future must be a collaborative and pluralistic effort. I’ve spent the last nine months listening and learning. I’ve had the opportunity to get to know our brilliant and dedicated faculty and staff and our fearless and passionate alumnae and students. Through the Shaping Barnard’s Future Together initiative, I’ve had meaningful conversations with the many individuals and stakeholders who are committed to and responsible for the College’s success. Their recommendations have been pivotal in helping us determine priorities that are bold in scope and ambition. Through our collective resources, contributions, and skill sets, and with open dialogue guiding us every step of the way — even when it is challenging or uncomfortable — I know Barnard will build upon our historic strengths and lead into the future. 

Bold History. Fearless Future. This vision is based on five foundations that will strengthen our communities of care, reimagine our infrastructure, embrace “OneBarnard,” lead for tomorrow, and grow our resources. We will prepare to tackle some of the biggest challenges we face today, from the climate crisis to the AI revolution, and strive to continuously innovate. We will reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 with the help of our own sustainability experts. We will continue to lead on issues of gender, from reproductive health to political engagement. We will double down on our commitment to access, making sure Barnard continues to be a place that the most extraordinary young women in the world — no matter their background or their ability to pay — want to attend and are able to attend. We will cultivate community on campus, support well-being, and build relationships with our Harlem and Morningside Heights neighbors. We will invest in best-in-class technology, upgrade our dorms, and foster a spirit of partnership on campus.

Critically, we will grow Barnard’s endowment over the next decade so that we will reach our first billion dollars in sustained, perpetual support. With this endowment growth, we will protect the programs that mean so much to the mission of Barnard. We will ensure our financial aid program is best-in-class. This will enable us to be on more equal footing as we compete with other elite colleges and universities. I extend my sincere gratitude to Roy and Diana T. Vagelos ’55 and Chair of the Board of Trustees Cheryl Milstein ’82, P’14, and her husband Philip for making the first generous contributions toward this goal at a pre-inauguration dinner.

Yes, we have set the bar high. But I know we can reach it — because we are capable, and we are fearless. As Alexa Easter ’23 said so eloquently at Inauguration: “Here, tradition means pushing against tradition and imagining something else — something bigger, dare I say, bolder.”

Learn more about Bold History, Fearless Future.