Nancy J. Vickers 1997-2008
Nancy J. Vickers came to Bryn Mawr from the University of Southern California where she served as Dean of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. An esteemed scholar of French, Italian, and Comparative Literature, she had written a number of well-regarded books. As president, Vickers led a process of transformation that increased applications to the college by forty percent. She also spearheaded a capital campaign that tripled the results of the college's previous efforts and made possible the renovation of the Marjorie Walter Goodhart Hall. According to Sally Zeckhauser, chairman of the board of trustees at the time of Vicker’s retirement, "During her tenure Bryn Mawr initiated a number of interdisciplinary programs that have received national recognition, and she has created faculty positions to support them. The Cambrian Row complex, housing a range of student activities, has helped create a more vibrant student life, as well as a legacy of civic engagement and student activism. Bryn Mawr has demonstrated a powerful commitment to diversity and cross-cultural communication. The college attracts students, faculty and recognition from around the globe."