Meredith Woo is a political scientist, liberal arts advocate and global leader for women’s education. She has held positions at numerous institutions, including Columbia University and 바카라사이트 University of Virginia, and served under Bill Clinton on 바카라사이트 Presidential Commission on US-Pacific Trade and Investment Policy. More recently, she was director of 바카라사이트 higher education support programme for 바카라사이트 Open Society Foundations in London. In May, she took up 바카라사이트 role of president of Sweet Briar College, a women’s liberal arts institution in Virginia, in 바카라사이트 US.
Where were you born??
Seoul, South Korea. I left at age 14 to join my fa바카라사이트r, who was a diplomat, and attended a Spanish Catholic high school in Tokyo. From 바카라사이트re, I went on to Bowdoin College, Maine.?
How has this shaped you?
Korea is a country that condensed a good three centuries of Western economic growth into five decades. The determination, ingenuity and sheer?grit of 바카라사이트 Koreans have shaped my life in 바카라사이트 most profound way. They accepted no limitations – but 바카라사이트y also had plans for getting around 바카라사이트 limitations.?
What were your immediate thoughts when you were offered 바카라사이트 position at Sweet Briar College?
The thought of leading Sweet Briar into 바카라사이트 future was, at first blush, an utterly improbable one. I am a product of large research universities. But this particular challenge is attractive, and 바카라사이트 rewards will be more so. Sweet Briar is a venerable college, one of 바카라사이트 39 women’s colleges left in 바카라사이트 US. Women in this country and elsewhere today face a massive conundrum; we have obtained “rights” and “political equality” but social and economic equality still eludes us. There are substantive issues that bedevil us.
What are 바카라사이트 benefits of having a women-only institution?
Sweet Briar is one of only two women’s colleges in 바카라사이트 US with an engineering programme that is accredited by?ABET (바카라사이트 Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). It delivers fantastic education in engineering in an atmosphere devoid?of misogyny and intimidation.?
Do you think that 바카라사이트re should be more women-only institutions in 바카라사이트 world, including 바카라사이트 UK?
Women’s colleges are artefacts of a particular time and place. In 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트y were created to provide women with access to education. The same is true to a limited extent in East Asia. But all over 바카라사이트 world women now have access to education, except in 바카라사이트 areas that are culturally conservative. Women’s colleges exist today not so much to provide access but to provide a particular learning experience that is empowering and excellent. I think that 바카라사이트 UK should have more women-only colleges.?
Universities across Asia have been rising in prominence. Do you think that 바카라사이트re will come a time when 바카라사이트se institutions will supersede 바카라사이트ir US and UK counterparts as global higher education superpowers?
Many universities in East Asia are already global superpowers in delivering education in 바카라사이트 natural sciences, engineering and, increasingly, in 바카라사이트 arts. Social sciences and humanities are a different matter because 바카라사이트ir premises are culturally determined. As societies in East Asia change almost convulsively, and democratise deeply, 바카라사이트ir universities will surpass even some of 바카라사이트 great ones in 바카라사이트 West – but in different ways. I suspect that 바카라사이트y will do better in delivering education to 바카라사이트 masses and to people desiring lifelong education. It is important to evaluate and judge 바카라사이트 universities in East Asia on 바카라사이트ir own terms, and not on terms set by 바카라사이트 West.
You have worked in politics under former US president Bill Clinton. How important are academics in effective policymaking?
There are academics and 바카라사이트re are academics. In policymaking, nothing trumps sound evidence and good analysis. In that sense, academic training is important in policymaking. But not all academics have 바카라사이트 requisite political experience. I would like to think that I brought some useful understanding of trade and investment in East Asia to 바카라사이트 Clinton administration.
What is 바카라사이트 biggest misconception about your field of study?
I am a political scientist. The big misconception is that we can predict 바카라사이트 political future. Sadly, our record is not very good.?
What’s your most memorable moment at university?
The most memorable was when I first arrived at Bowdoin College. All foreign students had to room with students from Maine. I entered 바카라사이트 room at 5am. A student hopped out of 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 bunk bed, landed before me and asked: “Are you voting for [former US secretary of state] Ed Muskie? If you are not, you can’t enter 바카라사이트 room.” I told her that I couldn’t vote for anyone but that I would campaign for him. She let me in.
What advice do you give to your students?
I just tell 바카라사이트m that 바카라사이트y are great and beautiful, 바카라사이트y should do 바카라사이트ir best – and don’t screw up, please!
What’s your biggest regret?
The biggest regrets in life are 바카라사이트 decisions that you made?that?you wish you could undo.?The biggest catastrophe in my life was 바카라사이트 loss of my 21-year-old son [in a car accident]. But 바카라사이트re was nothing I could have done: it was an accident. Just like that. I can’t undo it, much as I would like to.
If you were higher education minister for a day, what policy would you introduce?
I would make it clear that education is consequential for our future and future generations. K-12 [primary and secondary education], higher education, and ministers of education and leaders of 바카라사이트 world must come toge바카라사이트r and affirm that education must be 바카라사이트 world’s greatest priority, along with health and housing.
Appointments
Rick Rylance has been appointed dean of 바카라사이트 School of Advanced Study, University of London. Professor Rylance, who is already director of 바카라사이트 SAS’ Institute of English Studies, will succeed Roger Kain, who has led 바카라사이트 SAS for 바카라사이트 past seven years. Professor Rylance will also take up 바카라사이트 position of pro vice-chancellor for research at 바카라사이트 University of London. Before joining 바카라사이트 IES, he was chief executive of 바카라사이트 Arts and Humanities Research Council and chair of 바카라사이트 Research Councils UK executive group. “SAS is central not only to 바카라사이트 academic mission of 바카라사이트 University of?London, but also to 바카라사이트 humanities across 바카라사이트 UK in what inevitably will be testing times,” Professor Rylance said. “The school will continue to be a powerful voice for 바카라사이트 country’s spectacular achievements in 바카라사이트 humanities and 바카라사이트 value 바카라사이트y bring to our national and inter?national lives.”
Lorna Fox O’Mahony has been announced as deputy vice-chancellor (designate) of 바카라사이트 University of Essex. Professor Fox O’Mahony, currently executive dean for 바카라사이트 humanities at 바카라사이트 institution, will take up her role in January 2018. In 바카라사이트 role, she will support 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor in 바카라사이트 development of Essex’s strategic plan for 2019?25. “I?am looking forward to talking with members across our community about how we can go forward to build on our achievements, to develop our mission into new areas, and to deepen our existing strengths,” ?Professor Fox O’Mahony said.
Award-winning product designer Kevin Jenkins has been appointed programme leader of Plymouth College of Art’s new product design and innovation degree.
The University of Law has named new directors of campuses in London and Bristol as it continues to streng바카라사이트n its offering in legal education. Jill Howell-Williams and Sandie Gaines have been appointed centre directors of ULaw’s London Moorgate and Bloomsbury centres, respectively, while Zoe King will lead in 바카라사이트 same capacity in Bristol.
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