The Bryn Mawr community mourns the death and celebrates the life of the College’s fifth president, Harris Wofford, who passed away on Jan. 21 at the age of 92.
Best known for his role in the Civil Rights Movement, Wofford rose to national prominence as President John F. Kennedy’s special assistant for civil rights. He also helped Sargent Shriver launch the Peace Corps.
As president of Bryn Mawr from 1970-78, Wofford led the College during a period of intense political, economic, and social change. Wofford believed deeply in the need for cross-cultural dialogue and led successful efforts to recruit international students to the college and to provide financial support for their enrollment. He also strengthened and broadened opportunities for Bryn Mawr students to study abroad, and to pursue externships and internships. More on President Wofford’s legacy can be found in this Fall 2017 profile from the Alumnae Bulletin.
The thoughts of the Bryn Mawr community are with President Wofford’s family, friends, and all those whose lives were touched by his activism, kindness, and compassion.
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"All the world is in a crisis of authority and a crisis of the intellect—of law and reason. There will be no way out unless people dare to trust their intellects in action—unless on a scale never known before reason is used with courage to right a careening world." —Harris Wofford.