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Former Prairie View A&M President Dr. Ruth J. Simmons to speak at university’s 2023 commencement in May

Simmons resigned as president of Prairie View A&M last month

This 2021 photo shows Prairie View A&M University President Ruth Simmons in her office on the Prairie View, Texas, campus. Simmons, the president of the historically Black university in Texas, felt in December when she received a call informing her that the school would be gifted $50 million not just the largest contribution it has ever received, but nearly 24 times larger than the previous recordholder, the famous $2.1 million gift from thrifty schoolteacher Whitlowe Green in 2005. (Michael T. Thomas/Prairie View A&M University Marketing and Communications via AP) (Michael T. Thomas)

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Dr. Ruth J. Simmons, who formerly served as president at Prairie View A&M University, is slated to speak at this year’s commencement, despite resigning from the university last month.

Simmons, who was president of PVAMU since 2017, submitted her resignation after a reported disagreement with Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp over hiring during the rest of her term as president.

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In a letter to the campus community, Simmons said she was informed that “she could only continue as president with limited presidential authority.”

Simmons was supposed to serve until the incoming president, Tomikia LeGrande, assumed the role on June 1.

After she resigned, Rice University announced she will join their team as a President’s Distinguished Fellow, where she will provide input on the development of Rice’s Center for African and African American Studies.

Prior to Prairie View A&M, Simmons was named president at Brown University in 2001, making her the first Black woman to lead an Ivy League institution. She is also a former director of African American studies at Princeton University and past chair of the Harvard University Visiting Committee for African American Studies and, in 2003, she led the Slavery and Justice Initiative at Brown.

Prairie View A&M’s Commencement is scheduled for Saturday, May 13 at 8:30 a.m. in Panther Stadium. The ceremony will be live streamed.

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About the Author

A graduate of the University of Houston-Downtown, Ana moved to H-Town from sunny southern California in 2015. In 2020, she joined the KPRC 2 digital team as an intern. Ana is a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur, a catmom of 3, and an aquarium enthusiast. In her spare time, she's an avid video gamer and loves to travel.

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