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2008-01-12: Reception for Judith Shapiro, President of Barnard College    

Marcia Gordon, Pres. Barnard Club / Carol Worthey / Pres. Judith Shapiro, Barnard College

On January 9th at a gorgeous Bel Air home under an elegant tent replete with hors d'oevres and bar service, outgoing Barnard College President Judith Shapiro was surrounded by admiring graduates and undergraduates, most of them members of Barnard Club of Los Angeles. Unanimous among the standing-room only, exuberant crowd was the consensus that they had been nurtured during her long and beloved tenure as President. She will be missed. One admirer even announced that Judith had made it fun to donate to the school--no better tribute could be voiced than that.

In fact, her Presidency had forged such accomplishments as this: Today more young women apply to Barnard College than to any of the other Ivy League "seven sister" colleges, Barnard is holding its own as a women's liberal arts force-of-nature and exceeding expectations academically even after Columbia University has gone co-ed, the college has its own distinct persona and power, Barnard endowment has risen to an unprecedented 100 million dollars, new dormitories have been built encouraging many former "day students" from New York City to room at the school thus spuring more loyalty and involvement within the student body, Barnard girls feel a strong, personal relationship with Ms. Shapiro and the faculty, and--last but not least--a strikingly gorgeous, innovative and beautifully planned new multi-purpose Student Center is going up on campus that has already won several architectural awards even before the last nail is in place.

Dr. Shapiro, a Cultural Anthropologist by trade, hinted that she is not "retiring" in the traditional sense of the word and has her eye on some altruistic passions she has long wished to pursue. She is warm, well-spoken, diplomatic and of course extremely brilliant. She is delightfully open and unstuffy and spoke to the crowd about the somewhat mysterious search for her successor and about the qualifications she trusts the committee will embrace and discover. She filled us in regarding the exciting forward-motion of the college, the proud accomplishments she has seen in the faculty and graduates, new directions and some challenges for the school. Then she opened the floor to any questions. As the final question, Carol Worthey asked her, "What advice would you give your successor... that you can share with us tonight?" and got a very reasoned and honest answer. (You had to have been there.)

These will be tough boots to fill, but the walkway is paved for success!

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