In an unprecedented move in its 268-year history, Columbia University will get its first ever female president. Nemat Shafak is all set to take over the top post after Lee C.Bollinger retires in July this year.
Columbia in statement on January 18 said, "Shafik's election concludes a wide-ranging and intensive search launched after Lee C. Bollinger announced that he would step down as Columbia’s president at the end of the 2022-2023 academic year."
Shafik who is a leading economist will be the 20th president of the prestigious institution.
She is currenly serving as the Trustee of the British Museum, the Supervisory Board of Siemens, the Council of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, and the Economy Honours Committee.
Her career has spanned across public policy and academia. At 36, Shefak was the youngest ever vice president at the World Bank, and also worked in the capacity of a deputy managing director at the International Monetary fund.
In a similar move last move, Harvard University had named Claudline Gay as its first black president. She is also the first woman to hold the top post at the esteemed institution.
Also Watch: netizens hail 80-year-old granny for running marathon for the fifth time