Shapiro Says Goodbye, Plans for Transition

While knitting a brown scarf with long-time friend and Barnard College Dean Dorothy Denburg, President Judith Shapiro reminisced about her time at Barnard, revealed her future plans, and talked about the college’s new leader at the final fireside chat of her 14-year tenure Thursday evening.

About 40 students attended Shapiro’s last fireside chat, an event held in the Vagelos Alumni Center entitled “The Past, the Present, and the Pres” and sponsored by the Student Government Association. Following last week’s announcement that Harvard Business School professor Debora Spar will serve as Barnard’s next president in anticipation of Shapiro’s departure at the end of the school year, Shapiro also discussed the importance of fundraising, the relationship between Barnard and Columbia, and Barnard’s role as a women’s college.

According to SGA Vice President of Communications Kate McNamara, the intimate event drew in the largest student response of any Barnard fireside chat this year. Because it was Shapiro’s last chat, the SGA implemented a new format in which each student in attendance had the opportunity to ask Shapiro and Denburg a question.

When asked about the selection of Spar, Shapiro offered a positive outlook. Although Shapiro was out of town fundraising on the day of the announcement, she explained that she later invited Spar and her daughter to her apartment, where they “had such a great time that she [Spar] and her daughter almost missed their flight.”

“I found her really, really impressive,” Shapiro said. “She is extremely smart ... she really has everything you could want in a president ... Most of all, she’s just so nice.”

Denburg offered a piece of advice to Barnard’s future president: “Get out on the road and bring back $50 million to be earmarked for financial aid.” Laughing. Shapiro agreed that fundraising should be a “major goal in future years.”

Denburg also joked, “I hope she can knit!”

In discussing what lies ahead for Barnard, Shapiro and Denburg celebrated the institution’s position as a women’s college. “There will always be a need for women’s colleges. ... They are places that can be counted on to advance women’s interests. ... They are power bases for women,” Shapiro said.

When asked how the college has changed since she became president, Shapiro responded that the relationship with Columbia has improved.

“The relationship between Barnard and Columbia has never been better,” Shapiro said, citing the improved communication between the two schools. “At every single level ... it’s really so much better than it ever was.”

Shapiro further revealed her own future plans for life after Barnard, announcing that she recently accepted the position of chair of the board of trustees at Common Cents, an educational non-profit organization that “encourages kids to become philanthropists.” She also mentioned that she hopes to become involved in Public Radio in the near future.

Students in attendance said that they thoroughly enjoyed the event. “These chats are part of what is so intimate and great about Barnard in general,” Sarah Peaceman, BC ’08, said.

SGA President Laura Stoffel, BC ’08, said she was enthusiastic about the event’s turnout. “I felt a general desire from the students to connect with Shapiro because of everything she stands for and her commitment to the college,” she said. “President Shapiro will be deeply missed.” After a 14-year tenure, Shapiro said that, most of all, her time at Barnard has been “deeply fulfilling.”

“Of all the years of my working life ... nothing has been as fulfilling as my time as president of Barnard,” Shapiro said. “This place has been a lot of fun.”

stephanie.turner@columbiaspectator.com