COLLEGE STATION, Texas –The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents has named Ruth J. Simmons as the sole finalist for the position of President of Prairie View A&M University.

Simmons has served as Interim President of Prairie View A&M since July.

“After briefly serving as Interim President of Prairie View A&M University, Dr. Ruth J. Simmons has consented to continue her distinguished career as President. The Board of Regents is pleased to name Dr. Simmons as the sole finalist for the position. She will formally become the eighth President of Prairie View A&M University at the next Board of Regents’ meeting. The Board believes that her appointment represents a continuing commitment to Prairie View A&M University as a member of the Texas A&M University System,” said Charles Schwartz, Chairman of the Board of Regents.

“I knew Dr. Simmons was the right fit to lead Prairie View when we asked her to serve as Interim President,” said Chancellor John Sharp. “I am so excited by the prospect of President Simmons serving our campus for the long-term.”

Simmons is a pioneer in the field of higher education, having the distinction of being the first African American to lead an Ivy League institution. Her impressive background in higher education includes serving as the President of Brown University from July 2001 to June 2012.

Prior to joining Brown University, Simmons served as President of Smith College, where she started the first engineering program at a U.S. women’s college. Simmons held various positions of increasing responsibility including service as Vice Provost of Princeton University and as Provost of Spelman College; Associate Dean of the Faculty, Princeton University; Assistant Dean and then Associate Dean, University of Southern California; Acting Director of International Programs, California State University - Northridge; Admissions Officer, Radcliffe College and Instructor in French, George Washington University and Interpreter - Language Services Division, U.S. Department of State.

Additionally, Simmons has been appointed to several national boards including: Chairwoman of Advisory Board for 10,000 Women Initiative at The Goldman Sachs Group Inc.; Chair of the Holdsworth Center Board; member of the Board of the Houston Museum of Fine Arts; Independent Director of Square, Inc.; Independent Director of Mondelez International, Inc. and an Independent Director at FCA US LLC. She is a Non-Executive Director of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. ; and a member of the Council at National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Simmons is currently a member of the Board at Rice University. She formerly served on the Board of Princeton University and is a former Trustee for Howard University. She is a Fellow Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Simmons received a Bachelor of Arts in French from Dillard University in 1967 and a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy in Romance Languages and Literatures from Harvard University. Simmons holds more than 40 honorary degrees and is chevalier of the French Legion of Honor.

Under state law, university governing boards must name finalists for president at least 21 days before making an appointment. The Board of Regents will meet again to make the appointment. Simmons is expected to be ready to officially start in her new position immediately at that time.