A whirlwind day on campus Wednesday for Melissa L. Gilliam, BU president-elect, wrapped up with a meet-and-greet session with students at the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground.

Community Reaction

“Thrilled!” “Excited!” “Fantastic!” BU Community Reacts to Melissa L. Gilliam, BU’s 11th President

Students, faculty, staff share praise for her scholarship and empathy—and the historic firsts she represents

The Boston University community reacted with excitement, elation, and pride at the appointment of Melissa L. Gilliam as BU’s 11th president.

“I am super excited about Dr. Gilliam,” said Mariette DiChristina (COM’86), dean of the College of Communication. “When we think about a multidisciplinary university, one that is trying to help the world with its complex problems, Dr. Gilliam has that in her background and the way she looks at the world. I can’t think of a better leader for the next step for BU.”

Gilliam is currently the executive vice president and provost of The Ohio State University. She will assume the BU post on July 1, 2024, becoming the first woman and first person of color to lead the University.

“What a wonderful, historic day,” said Angela Onwuachi-Willig, dean of the School of Law and Ryan Roth Gallo and Ernest J. Gallo Professor of Law. “For us to have our first woman and first Black president, for a university that has long been forward-thinking and forward-moving [to] have a leader that is truly representative of our history and our values.”

“I think it’s wonderful that when we say we are inclusive, we mean all of us,” said DiChristina, who was the first woman editor in chief of Scientific American.

Junior Catherine Traylen (CAS’25) said she was happy to hear the new president is a woman. “There are more women students than men here, and having someone in the position of power who really gets the female perspective is so important,” she said. “Even if male leaders do a survey, they won’t fully understand issues women sometimes face, such as sexual harassment.” 

Gilliam’s background as both a physician and research scientist, as well as her upbringing, which was rich in culture and the humanities, appealed to faculty at BU, where interdisciplinary work is central to the University’s strategy.

“It’s a great hire,” said Victor Coelho, a College of Fine Arts professor of music, noting that she had served at both the University of Chicago and Ohio State. “Melissa Gilliam has impeccable credentials. And she has a demeanor that is so engaging. I’m very excited.”

“I’m thrilled that BU has chosen for our next president someone with deep roots both in rigorous research and teaching and in inclusive community building,” said Joshua Goodman, a Wheelock College of Education & Human Development associate professor of education and of economics. “President Gilliam takes seriously the need for excellence and the need for such excellence to be accessible and broad-reaching. With this kind of leadership, BU can continue on the path toward becoming the university we aspire to be.”

Gilliam is also a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and of pediatrics. Senior Grace Rembert (CFA’24), president of BU Students for Reproductive Freedom, said her organization is thrilled about the new hire.

“The fact that she is a gynecologist is incredible, and I’m sad I won’t get to work with her since I’m graduating,” Rembert said. “We’re really excited to see how her background in gynecology shapes the reproductive landscape on campus. Recently the University of Massachusetts schools were required to make medication abortion available on campus, and that’s something our organization is pushing for. So, hopefully we’ll see some progress on that under her.”

Gilliam’s scholarship focuses on developing interventions to promote adolescent health and well-being. In her remarks after being introduced to the BU community on Wednesday, she said her life’s work is guided by one question: “Why do some young people have adverse life outcomes, and how can that problem be rectified?”

“I think her track record of scholarship and commitment to social justice sharpens and elevates BU’s mission,” said Sandro Galea, dean and Robert A. Knox Professor at BU’s School of Public Health. “It will be a privilege to work at a university that places these ideas at the heart of our educational and scholarly mission.”

Navya Kotturu (CAS’24, Sargent’24), Student Government executive vice president, is on a premed track with hopes of one day going into pediatric surgery. Kotturu said seeing a medical professional in this type of academic leadership role is inspiring.

“The really amazing thing about someone who is a medical professional is that they really understand that it’s people first, humans first,” Kotturu said. “That’s their entire practice. I think that speaks volumes to who she is and what she is going to do.”

Many took note that while Gilliam is a doctor and a scientist, she also studied English literature at Yale and earned a Master of Arts in philosophy and politics from the University of Oxford. Also, her late father, Sam Gilliam, was a pioneering abstract painter, and her mother, Dorothy Butler Gilliam, was the first Black female reporter hired by the Washington Post.

“Fantastic—somebody with a science background who really respects the humanities and the arts. It’s a part of her because of her family and how she grew up,” Onwuachi-Willig said. “And a kind soul. You could tell that she is really empathetic.”

Senior and political science major Ilana Keusch (CAS’24, GRS’24), chief justice of Student Government, said that having someone at the helm of BU who conducts interdisciplinary research is important: “I think a lot of the research here is STEM-driven, and sometimes I worry that some of the research doesn’t consider human factors. And all of her research and the things we have spoken to her about—people aren’t statistics to her, they’re people.”

By all accounts Gilliam enjoys directly engaging with students. “I loved what [BU Trustees Chairman Ahmass Fakahany (Questrom’79)] said about how she just lights up when she speaks about students,” Onwuachi-Willig said.

Senior Dhruv Kapadia (CAS’24), Student Government president, said his team had the chance to chat with Gilliam during the interview process and left feeling impressed and hopeful, believing that, as president, she will really think about the student perspective.

“Like she mentioned, in the months leading up to her tenure, she will be on campus, and she will be learning,” Kapadia said. “I hope that myself and other outgoing students can give her some context as to what the key issues facing students are, such as unionization. It’s a tumultuous time to take on the presidency, but I think president-elect Gilliam is best suited to take on that job and she can make sure our university reaches its full potential.”

“I am very much a fan of the new president,” said Harry Pershing, Residence Life hall director for Sleeper Hall, adding that he knew little about her before hearing her speak. “I was very moved by pretty much everything she said, especially her personal story, the part [where] she talked about the adversity her parents had overcome, the accomplishments they had, and the way that has shaped her perspective. That got to me. That was a very powerful thing to say.”

The positive reaction went far beyond campus.

“Exciting news out of my alma mater!” tweeted Florida Congresswoman Lois Frankel (CAS’70). “I can’t wait to see the tremendous impact President Gilliam will bring to BU and the city of Boston #goterriers.”

Barbara Snyder, president of the Association of American Universities, said she too is delighted by the choice. “I have had the privilege of working with Dr. Gilliam” in her role at Ohio State, Snyder said. “She has distinguished herself as a leader, as a researcher, as an educator, and as a physician. She will be an exceptional president for Boston University and a worthy successor to President Emeritus Robert Brown.”

Melissa Sherwin, director of provost communications at the University of Chicago, where Gilliam worked before Ohio State, posted her excitement on X (formerly Twitter).

“Congratulations to the amazing Melissa Gilliam! @BU_Tweets, I hope you know you won the golden ticket here. Get ready!!!!”