Biography of Ruth Simmons as a leader in all parts of life, written by Wharton MBA student for a course on leadership from the point of view of the whole person.

1. KNOWLEDGE FOR ACTION
LEADERSHIP BIOGRAPHY: RUTH SIMMONS
Julia Goldner
Tuesday April 10th, 2017

2. KNOWLEDGE FOR ACTION
Ruth Simmons’ story: From poverty to elite academia
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Life story highlights Professional achievements
“There were many times when I personally
had to struggle,” she says, “but I didn’t give
up. By struggling, I came to understand what
I could do.”
• Born youngest of 12, in Grapeland, TX 1945
• Daughter of a tenant farmer (sharecropping)
and a maid
• Earned full scholarship to Dillard College
• Attended Harvard for Ph. D. in French
literature
• Married in 1968, divorced in ‘83; has two
children
• Has worked in higher education at University
of South Carolina, U of New Orleans,
Princeton, Smith, and Brown
• Won Fulbright Scholarship while at Dillard
• Ascended quickly in higher education, and
in 1995, became the first African American
president of Smith College
• In 2001, became the first African American
president of Brown, and more broadly, the
first in the Ivy League
• Still holds professorship at Brown
• Awarded over 30 honorary degrees
"My career," she says proudly, "has
always been about things I care about.”

3. KNOWLEDGE FOR ACTION
Simmons personality: Real, Whole, Innovative
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Be Real
Be Whole
Be Innovative
“I came to understand the value of education, not just to enable me
to make a good living, but to enable me to make a worthwhile life.”
- Ruth Simmons
"There has been an attitude of say nothing, offend no one, but
that's not the way I wanted to do the job. I'm prevented from
engaging in partisan politics, but I've never hesitated to be political
when required. I want people to see me as a woman of integrity -
not some two-dimensional cut-out."
- Ruth Simmons
“Her presence at Smith has changed the agenda for most people.
On campus, everyone thinks in a way they didn’t think before—in
terms of possibilities. She took away our limitations and brought us
back to Oz.”
- Brenda Allen, director of institutional diversity at Smith

4. KNOWLEDGE FOR ACTION
Key examples: Simmons’ domain alignment / misalignment
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Work
Family
Self
Community
Family/friend neglect
• On leading an elite
higher education
institution: "You know,
this is a 24-hour job,"
she says, "so I often
have no time for my
family or friends. You
wouldn't believe the
amount of horrible
messages I get from
people telling me what a
lousy friend I am."
Involvement in corporate
America
• Came under scrutiny for
Goldman Sachs board
position during Great
Recession
• Took a different
approach to board
membership: “If I can
give a very substantial
injection of humanistic
thinking into
corporations, boy, that
would change things a
lot.”
Education innovator
• Founded engineering and finance programs and
Office of Institutional Diversity at Smith
• Established the University Steering Committee on
Slavery and Justice at Brown
• “She has [encouraged] civility and [invited]
difference. “Ruth has created an atmosphere of
understanding [at Smith.]” “
Vocal civil rights activist
• While at Dillard: "There was a rule that every
student had to attend chapel," she says. "It
felt wrong to insist that atheists or Jews
should be made to go to something that
contradicted their beliefs, so I refused to go
on principle. The college threatened not to
allow me to graduate unless I backed down,
but I stood firm.”

5. KNOWLEDGE FOR ACTION
My lessons learned
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1. Carve out time for friends and family. Though Simmons has lead an
impressive, accomplished life, she admits to neglecting those closest to
her. Though not stated explicitly, it seems Ruth could feel guilt and regret
about ‘being a lousy friend.’
2. Modify life and career goals actively. Ruth started with modest goals
as a child, first focusing on building a life around anything but domestic
housework. As she attained education, recognition, and award, she
adjusted her expectations and goals to reach her full potential (i.e.
initially, she resisted the Brown presidency, but readjusted her view and
saw it as an incredible, historic opportunity)
3. “Assert views, and then have courage to be alone in one’s views.”
Ruth is a vocal civil rights activist –standing up for people of color and
women time and time again. She articulated that
4. Have hope in humanity. Ruth was raised in a world and time of
segregation and bigotry, but seems to hold conviction that people will see
the error of their ways. She feels a broader, more diverse purview makes
people better – and that society will come around to that.

6. KNOWLEDGE FOR ACTION
From Ruth Simmons’ first Convocation at Brown
“You know something that I hate? When people say, “That doesn’t make me
feel good about myself,” I say, “That’s not what you’re here for.” If you come
to this place for comfort, I would urge you to walk to yon iron gate,
pass through the portal and never look back. But if you seek betterment
for yourself, for your community and posterity, stay and fight. Fight for the
courage to be a true learner. Fight for the dignity of your intellect. Fight
for the compact that preserves our liberty. For the privilege of being in
a place that is dedicated to overturning lies. Fight for the place that each
of you has earned in the timeless moments of the history of Brown.”
Ruth Simmons, 9/4/2001
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