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Profile shoot of Ruth J Simmons - President Of Brown University Of America

Source: Mint / Getty

Prairie View A&M University is rolling out the purple carpet for former Brown University President Ruth J. Simmons. On Friday, she’ll be introduced as the first woman President in the history of the esteemed HBCU.

The #RuthTheTruth campaign was launched last October when Simmons, a native Houstonian, was named the sole finalist for the position. She had previously retired from her position at Brown in 2012 and was brought on as an interim president last July. The Houston native has already made precedent as the first African-American, male or female to lead an Ivy League institution in 2001.

“I knew Dr. Simmons was the right fit to lead Prairie View when we asked her to serve as Interim President,” A&M System Chancellor John Sharp said in a statement last October. “I am so excited by the prospect of President Simmons serving our campus for the long-term.”

Former PVAMU President George Wright announced last June that he was stepping down to return to the faculty.

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