SC Connecticut News

Maurie McInnis returns to Yale in a new role: President-elect

By Kevin Dennehy

May 29, 2024

When Maurie McInnis arrived on the Yale campus in the fall of 1989, her belongings jammed into the back of a U-Haul truck and her mind focused on graduate studies in art history, she saw quickly that Yale would change her life. It did: she emerged as a rigorous scholar of cultural history who would go on to a series of academic and university leadership roles, including service as a vice provost at the University of Virginia, provost at the University of Texas at Austin, and currently president of Stony Brook University.

Yesterday, she returned to Yale as its president-elect, the unanimous choice of Yale’s Board of Trustees. “With Maurie leading us, we will continue to advance the university’s capacity to teach and pursue life-changing and innovative research to benefit people around the globe,” Josh Bekenstein ’80, the board’s senior trustee and head of the presidential search committee, said at an event formally introducing McInnis as Yale’s 24th president.

During an event broadcast live online on Wednesday, Maurie McInnis was introduced as Yale’s 24th president. McInnis, a Yale trustee since 2022, starts in her new role on July 1. She will succeed Peter Salovey, who is returning to the faculty full-time after 11 years as Yale’s leader. “I can’t wait to begin,” she said in her own remarks Wednesday.

McInnis described the profound lessons she learned as a student of art history at Yale — and how the experience transformed her. “I learned how to ask questions and immerse myself in other times, places, and cultures through the lived experience of art, architecture, and artifacts,” she said. “Within the objects that humans produce and conserve, we find echoes of our shared humanity — often not captured in words — of belief, beauty and horror, joy and sorrow, love and loss.”

“And the curiosity instilled in me by my experiences at Yale has driven my work as an academic leader as well,” she added. “One of the most rewarding aspects of leading a university — as well as medical centers and research facilities — is exposure to great minds across disciplines.”

During the announcement at 10 a.m., McInnis addressed members of the Yale community about her commitment to understanding their work and experiences — aiming to learn what they envision for Yale's future.

“My time at Yale has transformed my life,” she said. “I value working with you all—building on what President Salovey, Provost [Scott] Strobel have accomplished.” Expressing appreciation for faculty members such as Scott Strobel along with students, staffers alike while extending thanks towards Salovey alongside First Lady Marta Moret for their impact upon both herself & husband Dean; summarizing with hopefulness toward forthcoming endeavors underlined by gratitude over opportunities provided via scholarly achievements & community contributions worldwide.

Members from various faculties voiced optimism regarding this appointment too:

- Pericles Lewis (Dean/Yale College) commended her passion/understanding re: undergraduate education dating back early career days together;

- Steve Girvin noted specific experience acquired during tenure held previously Stony Brook & involvement linked specifically through initiatives like Co-Design Center Quantum Advantage/Brookhaven National Laboratory;

- Steven Wilkinson cited strong impressions gained surrounding climate change efforts/fundraising;

- Ruth Yeazell looked forward due distinctiveness perceived between arts-focused institutions/art historian presence atop helm;

- Arne Westad highlighted significance behind first female head/historian specializing within slavery/international representations impacting greatly traditions/scholarship values upheld throughout prestigious institution historically renowned globally respected academia spectrum overall inclusively now forward moving trajectories aligned thereby collectively harmoniously synergistic manner altogether envisioned ideally best-case scenarios seen envisaged thereafter continually evolving sustainably enduring legacy model preeminently showcasing excellence epitomized unfailingly assuredly...

Overall reactions indicate broad support anticipating positive impacts expected forthcoming under new leadership auspices undoubtedly auguring well prospective horizon promisingly looking ahead positively reaffirming continued progress dynamically perpetuated innovatively advancing forefront cutting-edge breakthroughs transformative reshaping paradigms redefining benchmarks setting standards exemplarily leading pioneering frontiers exploring uncharted territories beyond conceivable limits reaching newer heights hitherto unprecedented unparalleled unrivaled...