Last week, the Republican Party’s obloquy of the culture in America’s colleges overlapped with an old academic offence, and at the centre of it was social scientist Claudine Gay.
Ms. Gay, who studies race and politics, has been with Harvard University for 17 years. In July 2023, she assumed charge as the university’s new and first Black president. Her tenure also began right after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in higher education, leaving her to negotiate the admission of a diverse student body while following the law.
Ms. Gay is the daughter of Haitian immigrants. She finished schooling at the Phillips Exeter Academy, followed by a year at Princeton University, then Stanford University, and finally Harvard University — all elite institutions.
