Yale University has announced the appointment of Maurie McInnis as its 24th president, marking the first time a woman has been named to the position permanently. McInnis, currently serving as the president of Stony Brook University in New York, will succeed Peter Salovey, who is retiring after a decade of leading the prestigious Ivy League institution.

The decision to appoint McInnis was unanimous, according to a statement from Yale's Board of Trustees. Senior trustee Josh Bekenstein praised her as a "compelling leader, distinguished scholar, and devoted educator" who possesses a deep understanding of higher education and a steadfast commitment to the university's mission and academic priorities.

Having been the president of Stony Brook University since 2020, McInnis brings a wealth of experience to her new role. Previously, she served as executive vice president and provost of the University of Texas at Austin and vice provost for academic affairs at the University of Virginia. Furthermore, McInnis is no stranger to Yale, having served as a trustee since 2022. She received her master's degree and doctorate from Yale, specializing in art history with a focus on the politics of art and slavery in the southern United States during the 1800s.

Expressing her excitement about the upcoming role, McInnis stated that she looks forward to reconnecting with familiar faces and meeting new members of the Yale community. She praised the university's faculty, staff, and students, highlighting their excellence in their respective fields and their contributions to the Yale community.

Starting her presidency on July 1, McInnis plans to schedule listening sessions and individual meetings later in the summer, underscoring her commitment to engaging with the university community. As she takes the helm of Yale, McInnis will lead one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the world, with a significant endowment of $40 billion, approximately 12,000 undergraduate and graduate students, 5,500 faculty members, and around 11,600 staff.

Notably, Yale and Stony Brook were both sites of protests related to the Israel-Hamas war. However, McInnis did not address this issue in her comments.

Prior to her appointment, McInnis faced scrutiny over the arrests of protesters at Stony Brook. While she supported students' right to free expression and peaceful assembly, she emphasized the need to maintain an academic environment free from disruptions. A proposed censure against her narrowly failed in Stony Brook's faculty Senate.

McInnis's academic leadership experience and scholarship were praised by Yale's search committee. Her expertise in antebellum visual culture and her award-winning books were noted as the epitome of the rigorous scholarship that Yale faculty produce and want their students to study. Additionally, her work on climate change, including chairing the New York Climate Exchange and leading the establishment of an international climate change solutions center in New York City, garnered accolades.

Yale has had only one other female leader, Hanna Holborn Gray, who served as acting president from 1977 to 1978. Her tenure later saw the removal of the "acting" designation, solidifying her historical contribution to the university.

With her unique blend of academic leadership, scholarly accomplishments, and dedication to addressing global challenges such as climate change, McInnis is poised to lead Yale University into a new era of excellence and innovation.