Frances D. Fergusson
Encyclopedia
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.
in Art History
at Harvard University
before starting her teaching career at Newton College
.
at Boston, where she later became an assistant chancellor. Fergusson continued her career in academic administration from 1982 until 1986 at Bucknell University
, where she served as Provost
and Vice President
of the university. She left Bucknell to become Vassar's president. Fergusson has published extensively in the field of architectural history, including an award-winning article on the iconography of St. Charles' Church in Vienna
.
An avid and effective fundraiser, she has raised more than $750 million for Vassar College
. Her administration has overseen extensive renovation of the campus, including refurbishment of the library, creation of a new art center, and construction of a modern drama and film center. Both the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
and the Center for Drama and Film were designed by renowned architect, Cesar Pelli
.
While serving as Vassar's president, Fergusson has also contributed her administrative talents as a member of the Boards of Trustees of the Ford Foundation
from (1989–2001) and the Mayo Foundation / Mayo Clinic
from 1988 to 2002. She was chair of the board of the Mayo Clinic from 1998 to 2002. She has also served on the boards of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), the Foreign Policy Association, The Noguchi Museum, WNET/Thirteen, and the Society of Architectural Historians
of the United States.
She is the president of the Board of Overseers of Harvard University (2007–2008), and a member of the boards of the Getty Trust, The School of American Ballet, Second Stage Theatre, the National Humanities Council, and The Foundation for Contemporary Arts
.
In the corporate worlds, she serves on the boards of Pfizer and Mattel, and was formerly a director of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corporation and HSBC Bank USA, NA.
On February 16, 2005, Fergusson announced her intention to step down as president of Vassar College at the end of the 2005 – 2006 academic year, after twenty years as head of the institution.
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,...
from 1986 to 2006. A graduate of Wellesley College, Fergusson earned her A.M.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
and Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Art History
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
before starting her teaching career at Newton College
Newton College of the Sacred Heart
Newton College of the Sacred Heart was a small women's liberal arts college in Newton Centre, Massachusetts. It opened in 1946 and merged with Boston College in June 1974....
.
Life
In 1975, she began teaching at University of MassachusettsUniversity of Massachusetts Boston
The University of Massachusetts Boston, also known as UMass Boston, is an urban public research university and the second largest campus in the five-campus University of Massachusetts system. The university is located on on Harbor Point in the City of Boston, Massachusetts, United States...
at Boston, where she later became an assistant chancellor. Fergusson continued her career in academic administration from 1982 until 1986 at Bucknell University
Bucknell University
Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university located alongside the West Branch Susquehanna River in the rolling countryside of Central Pennsylvania in the town of Lewisburg, 30 miles southeast of Williamsport and 60 miles north of Harrisburg. The university consists of the College of...
, where she served as Provost
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
and Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of the university. She left Bucknell to become Vassar's president. Fergusson has published extensively in the field of architectural history, including an award-winning article on the iconography of St. Charles' Church in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
.
An avid and effective fundraiser, she has raised more than $750 million for Vassar College
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,...
. Her administration has overseen extensive renovation of the campus, including refurbishment of the library, creation of a new art center, and construction of a modern drama and film center. Both the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center is a teaching museum, major art repository, and exhibition space on the campus of Vassar College, in Poughkeepsie, New York, USA. It was originally founded in 1864 as the Vassar College Art Gallery. It displays works from antiquity to contemporary times...
and the Center for Drama and Film were designed by renowned architect, Cesar Pelli
César Pelli
César Pelli is an Argentine architect known for designing some of the world's tallest buildings and other major urban landmarks. In 1991, the American Institute of Architects listed Pelli among the ten most influential living American architects...
.
While serving as Vassar's president, Fergusson has also contributed her administrative talents as a member of the Boards of Trustees of the Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
from (1989–2001) and the Mayo Foundation / Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
from 1988 to 2002. She was chair of the board of the Mayo Clinic from 1998 to 2002. She has also served on the boards of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), the Foreign Policy Association, The Noguchi Museum, WNET/Thirteen, and the Society of Architectural Historians
Society of Architectural Historians
The Society of Architectural Historians is an international not-for-profit organization that promotes the study and preservation of the built environment worldwide....
of the United States.
She is the president of the Board of Overseers of Harvard University (2007–2008), and a member of the boards of the Getty Trust, The School of American Ballet, Second Stage Theatre, the National Humanities Council, and The Foundation for Contemporary Arts
Foundation for Contemporary Arts
Foundation for Contemporary Arts , originally known as Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts, is a nonprofit based foundation in New York City founded by artists Jasper Johns , John Cage, Elaine de Kooning and others in 1963. FCA offers financial support and recognition to contemporary...
.
In the corporate worlds, she serves on the boards of Pfizer and Mattel, and was formerly a director of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corporation and HSBC Bank USA, NA.
On February 16, 2005, Fergusson announced her intention to step down as president of Vassar College at the end of the 2005 – 2006 academic year, after twenty years as head of the institution.