CAIRO: The American University in Cairo’s Board of Trustees announced on Monday the selection of Lisa Anderson as the university’s first female president.
Anderson has served as the AUC provost since 2008. She served previously as the dean of the School of International and Public Affairs in Columbia University and the director of Columbia’s Middle East Institute.
Prior to that, Anderson was assistant professor of Government and Social Studies at Harvard University. She also served as president of the Middle East Studies Association and chair of the board of Directors of the Social Science Research Council. Anderson also authored and edited many publications.
She serves on the board of the Carnegie Council on Ethics in International Affairs, is a member emerita of the board of Human Rights Watch and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Richard A. Bartlett, chair of the AUC Board of Trustees, said that Anderson is uniquely suited for the position.
“Dr Anderson is a renowned scholar recognized internationally for her research and scholarship on politics in the Middle East and North Africa,” said Bartlett, according to an AUC press statement.
“In addition she is a highly skilled administrator and leader who has made significant contributions to the university since being appointed provost.”
Anderson expressed her gratitude to the Board of Trustees for their confidence and thanked her predecessor for his contributions to the university.
“I am honored by the confidence that the board of trustees has extended to me in making this appointment and I look forward to working with them closely as we make AUC the center of excellence in higher education in the Middle East,” she said.
Bruce Ferguson, dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at AUC told Daily News Egypt that he expects Anderson’s leadership to increase the influence of AUC in Egypt and the Middle East as well as internationally.
“I know Lisa to be a true university person; a scholar, an outstanding teacher, an adept administrator, and a true convener of the interests of the university and the community both,” Ferguson said.
Anderson had her share of controversy when she invited Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Columbia University for the Fall 2006 World Leaders Forum.
Columbia University later withdrew the invitation to Ahmadinejad.
Anderson will replace David Arnold who will be stepping down on December after being president of AUC for seven years.
Arnold will head to San Francisco to become president of the Asia Foundation, a non-profit that supports development programs.
