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The news last week that the Board of Trustees has picked  to be the next president of �����鶹 generated comments from a wide array of people, including many who have worked directly with the Barnard College president as well as members of the community who are excited that Beilock, a cognitive scientist, is the first woman to be elected president of �����鶹.

Here is a sampling of the comments, some from Twitter, about Beilock, who takes office next summer when President Philip J. Hanlon ’77 steps down after a decade at �����鶹:

Martha Pollack ’79

President of Cornell University

“I’m delighted to welcome Sian to our cohort of Ivy League presidents and look forward to having her as a colleague. I’ve been impressed with her leadership at Barnard and the University of Chicago and have valued our growing relationship over the years. As a �����鶹 alum, I’m especially excited about her ability to lead the university into the future while protecting all that makes it special.”

Elizabeth Cahill Lempres ’83, Thayer ’84

“Sian is a leader with the aspirational vision to build our research enterprise, further our tradition of excellence in undergraduate education, and expand our global impact; she embraces the teacher-scholar model and brings experience from a world-class R1 institution as well as a distinctive liberal arts college. Sian’s election in this, our 50th year of coeducation at �����鶹, was enthusiastic and unanimous. We are thrilled to welcome her to the �����鶹 family.”

Philip J. Hanlon ’77

“I think this appointment is incredibly exciting. She is an eminent academic, she has been at a couple of the most outstanding academic institutions in the country, her research is compelling, and I know she’ll be an experienced and vibrant leader for this institution.”

Lee Bollinger

President of Columbia University and former provost of �����鶹

“I extend my deepest congratulations to Sian Beilock on being named the 19th president of �����鶹, beginning in July of 2023. It has been a great pleasure working with Sian over these past several years. She has a profound commitment to academic excellence and a heartfelt determination to support and nurture her community—demonstrated magnificently in the last few years as we all struggled with the challenges of COVID-19 and other tragedies. Now I look forward to working with Sian over this next year.”

Connie Britton ’89

and Emmy Award-nominated actor

Daniel Diermeier

Chancellor of Vanderbilt University and former provost at the University of Chicago

“At the University of Chicago, Sian made a lasting impact by significantly enhancing the graduate student experience, strengthening the budgeting model, and extending the university’s urban scholarship. She built broad consensus through the unusual combination of clear vision, transparent decision processes, and a deep respect for shared governance and academic freedom. She was an inspired choice by the search committee and is just the right leader to build on �����鶹’s excellence.”

Nicole Haig ’95

Emergency medicine physician

“She changes the face of �����鶹. To have a woman, a young woman who brings energy and a level of engagement and inclusion, it’s just taking things to the next level.”

Evelyn Hatem ’24

“I’m excited to hear her articulate what she will bring from Barnard as a liberal arts college and also as a research institution, and I can’t wait to see how this next year unfolds.”

Mindy Kaling ’01

Actor and author

Neal Katyal ’91

and former acting solicitor general of the United States

Cheryl Glicker Milstein

Chair of Barnard’s Board of Trustees

“(Barnard’s) growth has been especially remarkable under Sian’s leadership, advancing our core mission and values through a historically challenging time.”

Shonda Rhimes ’91

Award-winning television producer and author

Jake Tapper ’91

and CNN anchor