Simmons, an accomplished academician and leader was confirmed to the position in an unprecedented special call meeting of the Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System on June 19. Simmons is the 18th president of Brown University and retired from the university in 2012.
“We are fortunate to have such a high-caliber scholar and administrator who can step in without missing a beat,” said Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp. “Dr. Simmons has been an important figure on the national stage for decades. She has the credentials to be the president of any university in America. I am so excited to have her join us.”
Dr. Simmons served as President of Brown University from 2001 to 2012 and is credited with making numerous strides in excellence at the Ivy League University. She also served as president of Smith College, the nation’s largest women’s college, from 1995-2001, where started the engineering program. She also held administrative and teaching stints as an Associate Dean at University of Southern California, Vice Provost at Princeton University, another Ivy League university; and a Provost at Spelman College, a historically black college. She also served on several corporate boards to include Texas Instruments, Goldman Sachs, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Pfizer. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, and the Council on Foreign Relations and served as chair of the Council of Ivy Group Presidents. Simmons was also appointed by President Barack Obama to the President's Commission on White House Fellowships.
Upon retirement from Brown University, Simmons returned to Houston to enjoy her family and friends. However, her commitment to excellence in higher education and her belief in young people’s achievement kept her in the loop even though she turned down many offers.
Her reasoning for coming out of retirement to serve at Prairie View A&M University is due to the university’s rich history, its significance and its mission as well as the fact that her brother attended the university.
“I have deep roots in Texas, and I was looking for a way to do something helpful for my community,” she said. Dr. Simmons attended Houston public schools and upon graduation attended Dillard University, a historically black college in New Orleans, which she states was the pivotal opportunity in her life for service. Simmons holds the Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures from Harvard University.
“I was from a very poor family with 12 children in Grapeland, Texas, at a time when colleges were just desegregating,” Dr. Simmons said. “I know how important historically black colleges and universities are for kids like I was.” Chancellor Sharp and the Board agreed with Dr. Simmons that she begin her service before the fall semester. Her first order of business will be to meet with the university leadership and learn the issues facing the campus community. Ask about her first move in the position, Simmons stated: “My task is to listen, and to learn as quickly as I can and get started as quickly as I can.”
Simmons said she only agreed to the job if the system made clear that she was taking it temporarily — she won't be the permanent hire "because I am old and I'm retired." Simmsons stated that she is not going to be interim-like neither do I plan to be a placeholder. "I am coming into the position with great ambition and a willingness to take on the big projects. Just be mindful that I would take a position just to twiddle my thumbs. If I am going to be lazy, I would rather that be on my own time," she concluded."
Since taking the helm, Simmons was confirmed as the 8th president and the first woman to be president of Prairie View A&M University. She has made several changes with emphasis on student achievement and development, transparency, fiscal accountability and respectability.
There is more in store for Prairie View A&M University as she takes on the third year.
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