Despite recent pushback against diversity, equity and inclusion among several states, a number of colleges have recently hired presidents based on their commitment to that principle. Several are also coming in as either the first woman or the first of their race or ethnicity to lead their school.
These colleges may all be well over a hundred years old, but recent hirings prove there is still a first time for everything: NYU and three other colleges have all recently elected a Black or female president—or both—for the first time in their histories.