Catharine Bond Hill
Encyclopedia
Catharine "Cappy" Bond Hill is the current president of Vassar College
in Poughkeepsie, NY. She began in 2006, after former president Frances D. Fergusson
retired. Before coming to Vassar, Hill was provost at Williams College
.
, with First Class Honours in politics, philosophy and economics, and a Ph.D. in economics at Yale University
.
In her early career Hill worked for The World Bank (1982–1987) and the Congressional Budget Office
(1981–1982). In 1985, however, Hill returned to her alma mater to teach economics, and she began her role as Williams provost in July 1999, holding major financial and academic responsibilities. As chief financial officer of the college, she was responsible for the annual college budget and long-range financial planning, as well as the Controller's office. Hill was also responsible for the Williams College Museum of Art, the Williams College Libraries and the offices of Admissions, Financial Aid and Information Technology. In addition, she was a member of the Committee on Appointments and Promotions, which makes all reappointment and tenure decisions and allocates faculty positions. Hill chaired the Williams economics department from 1997 to 1999, as well as the college's Center for Development Economics from 1992 to 1994.
In what Hill has called one of the most transformative experiences of her life, she and her family lived from 1994-1997 in the Republic of Zambia, where she was the fiscal/trade advisor and then chief-of-party for the Harvard Institute for International Development
's Project on Macroeconomic Reform. She has written widely from her experiences in Africa, including co-editing the books Promoting and Sustaining Economic Reform in Zambia (2004) and the widely-reviewed Public Expenditure in Africa (1996).
Hill and her husband, Kent J. Kildahl, head of the Upper School at Riverdale Country School
(Riverdale, New York), have three children. In her spare time, Hill practices golf.
In one of the most notable events in Vassar's history, Hill returned the school to a Need-blind admission
policy, which ensures that the financial need of an applicant will not be a criterion considered in the admissions process. When she first became President, Hill made clear that of her priorities for Vassar's future, a robust financial aid program would be paramount. Hill announced the decision to go need-blind during her remarks at Vassar's 2007 Commencement ceremony, at which National Public Radio host Terry Gross
was the speaker. Under HIll's leadership, Vassar has also replaced loans with grants in financial aid for low-income families, in further efforts to increase access to higher education.
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
in Poughkeepsie, NY. She began in 2006, after former president Frances D. Fergusson
Frances D. Fergusson
Frances Daly Fergusson served as president of Vassar College from 1986 to 2006. A graduate of Wellesley College, Fergusson earned her A.M. and Ph.D...
retired. Before coming to Vassar, Hill was provost at Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
.
Biography
A 1976 summa cum laude graduate of Williams College, Hill also earned B.A. and M.A. degrees at Brasenose College, OxfordBrasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
, with First Class Honours in politics, philosophy and economics, and a Ph.D. in economics at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
.
In her early career Hill worked for The World Bank (1982–1987) and the Congressional Budget Office
Congressional Budget Office
The Congressional Budget Office is a federal agency within the legislative branch of the United States government that provides economic data to Congress....
(1981–1982). In 1985, however, Hill returned to her alma mater to teach economics, and she began her role as Williams provost in July 1999, holding major financial and academic responsibilities. As chief financial officer of the college, she was responsible for the annual college budget and long-range financial planning, as well as the Controller's office. Hill was also responsible for the Williams College Museum of Art, the Williams College Libraries and the offices of Admissions, Financial Aid and Information Technology. In addition, she was a member of the Committee on Appointments and Promotions, which makes all reappointment and tenure decisions and allocates faculty positions. Hill chaired the Williams economics department from 1997 to 1999, as well as the college's Center for Development Economics from 1992 to 1994.
In what Hill has called one of the most transformative experiences of her life, she and her family lived from 1994-1997 in the Republic of Zambia, where she was the fiscal/trade advisor and then chief-of-party for the Harvard Institute for International Development
Harvard Institute for International Development
The Harvard Institute for International Development was a think-tank dedicated to helping nations join the global economy, operating between 1974 and 2000...
's Project on Macroeconomic Reform. She has written widely from her experiences in Africa, including co-editing the books Promoting and Sustaining Economic Reform in Zambia (2004) and the widely-reviewed Public Expenditure in Africa (1996).
Hill and her husband, Kent J. Kildahl, head of the Upper School at Riverdale Country School
Riverdale Country School
Riverdale Country School is a co-educational, independent, college-preparatory day school in New York City. One of the most competitive private schools in the nation, it is located on two campuses covering more than in the Riverdale section of The Bronx, New York.-History:Founded in 1907 by Dr...
(Riverdale, New York), have three children. In her spare time, Hill practices golf.
Vassar under Hill
Shortly after President Fergusson announced her retirement in 2005, Vassar began an extensive national search for her successor that yielded more than 200 candidates. Of those contenders, the Board of Trustees unanimously selected Hill as the tenth President of Vassar College. Hill succeeded Fergusson on July 1, 2006, and was officially inaugurated in a five-day celebration from Oct. 25 through Oct. 29 that included events for students such as “Cappy and the Chocolate Factory,” a party in the Students’ Building featuring live entertainment and desserts such as “Cappy candy bars,” a cotton candy wall and a chocolate fondue fountain. Hill highlighted her primary goal as improving affordability and access, and also to, as she said at one of her first gatherings with students, “articulate and build a consensus around a vision of an institution.”In one of the most notable events in Vassar's history, Hill returned the school to a Need-blind admission
Need-blind admission
Need-blind admission is a term in the United States denoting a college admission policy in which the admitting institution does not consider an applicant's financial situation when deciding admission...
policy, which ensures that the financial need of an applicant will not be a criterion considered in the admissions process. When she first became President, Hill made clear that of her priorities for Vassar's future, a robust financial aid program would be paramount. Hill announced the decision to go need-blind during her remarks at Vassar's 2007 Commencement ceremony, at which National Public Radio host Terry Gross
Terry Gross
Terry Gross is the host and co-executive producer of Fresh Air, an interview format radio show produced by WHYY-FM in Philadelphia and distributed throughout the United States by National Public Radio....
was the speaker. Under HIll's leadership, Vassar has also replaced loans with grants in financial aid for low-income families, in further efforts to increase access to higher education.