Welcome from President Lynn Perry Wooten
"When Simmons leads, the world works better"
Lynn Perry Wooten, a seasoned academic and an expert on organizational development and transformation, became the ninth president and first African American to lead Simmons University on July 1, 2020.
Specializing in crisis leadership, diversity and inclusion, and positive leadership — organizational behavior that reveals and nurtures the highest level of human potential — President Wooten is an innovative leader whose research has informed her work in the classroom and as an administrator.
President Wooten is a scholar and academic, and throughout her career she has assumed a number of leadership positions. Most recently, she served as the David J. Nolan Dean and Professor of Management and Organizations at Cornell University’s Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management.
Presidential Strategic Priorities
President Wooten identified nine strategic priorities for her presidency: a pivotal experience for students, an outstanding community to work, empowering faculty excellence, a leadership brand promise, commitment to inclusive excellence and social justice, a vibrant campus environment, exemplary operations, philanthropic call to action, and a culture of organizational learning, innovation, and change.
The vision for Simmons’ next 100 years is for the university to “become a beacon of leadership in the world of higher education; a resource to our nation and world; known for our expertise in fields which improve the human condition; sought out for the findings of our highly reputable research and seen as the global expert in educating women for their own empowerment and leadership.” View Simmons' strategic priorities.
The Magic of Simmons
President Wooten discusses the magic of Simmons University, explaining that, “With robust graduate programs and commitment to educating the next generation of female leaders, Simmons University plays a significant role in today’s world."