INAUGURATION Greeting on behalf of institutions of higher learning dedicated to educating women

Joanne V. Creighton, President
Mount Holyoke College

On behalf of the historic Seven Sisters as well as Women’s Education Worldwide, an alliance of fifty women’s colleges from around the world,  I am pleased to greet you, sister president, Kim Bottomly,  on the occasion of your inauguration.

From my more experienced perspective as a president, let me warn you, Kim, that friends are likely to be somewhat mystified and even horrified by what they imagine is your new life of a college president.  In spontaneous outbursts they may say to you:  "I wouldn't have your job for the world!"  And, I can tell you, with some genuine credibility, that there will be dark days — such as when students outside your window are chanting: "What do we want? Answers! When do we want ‘em? Now!" — when you will wish to be somewhere else, anywhere else, than in the president’s chair. 

Yet, I must also say that I can hardly imagine a job with greater rewards. 
 
One of the great pleasures of the job — that more than make up for its occasional pains — is the bird’s eye view afforded by the position.  From that lofty perch, a college president is likely to have occasional moments of seeing the college steadily and seeing it whole, to borrow a phrase from Matthew Arnold.  In such moments, one sees the College as multifarious, diverse, complex, yes, but also as a single organism, ineluctably bound together by implicitly shared values, habits of mind, attitudes towards knowledge.

From the broad vista of the presidency, one appreciates with special acuity the extraordinarily consequential role our institutions have in individual lives and in societal impact.

And, “There are few subjects that match the social significance of women’s education in the contemporary world,” so says Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen. As he has conclusively demonstrated in his research, when women are educated, all of society benefits — whether in terms of economic productivity, public health, or an engaged citizenry. Women are still the world’s greatest underutilized natural resource. Education is the key to unlocking that potential.

And few institutions have histories and missions more inspirational than Wellesley College and the other historic sisters. Together these colleges have made an enormous difference to the education and advancement of women in this country and the world.   And our current students are determined to keep up this sterling record.

Indeed, graduates of our colleges know how powerful and consequential their education has been in their lives, and they give back to our colleges in great loyalty and support.

In fact, another rewarding part of the job is the many heartfelt thank yous you will receive from those who have been transformed by their Wellesley experience.

But, lest you fear that this lavish praise might give you a big head, let me assure you that the presidency is also a humbling job. Like Alexander Haig, you can say, "I'm in charge" — but with equal credibility.  So many others — students, faculty, administrators, trustees, alumnae, the surrounding community — make up the excellence of Wellesley College as well as does its history, customs, policies, and traditions. 

Yet, presidents do have a role, too.  We know that despite all of this collective institutional strength, these institutions face considerable challenges. They are up against all the dominant trends in higher education towards large, urban, public, coed, professional, nonresidential education. They are not self-sustaining. They need our undivided attention, our most inspired leadership.   

And that, I am fully confident you bring: distinguished scholar, experienced administrator, sister president, Kim Bottomly. Your leadership is an auspicious moment for Wellesley College and for the Seven Sisters and for Women’s Education Worldwide. I congratulate the trustees on their choice!  And I warmly welcome you to a very special sisterhood.

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