One of the most prestigious liberal arts colleges in the US has become the first Ivy League university to appoint a black president.
56-year-old Ruth Simmons was appointed to the post at Brown University last November, but was inaugurated yesterday. Students have heralded her as an inspiration, not only because of her race, but because she rose from a humble upbringing in segregated Texas.
She gave her inaugural address on Sunday to a crowd of 5,000 students eager to see the president replacing Gordon Gee, who has moved to Vanderbilt University. Ms Simmons said her success was due to inspiring teaching at a young age.
The appointment of a black president does not remove all the concerns about race relations at the college. Earlier this year, a graduate of the university, David Horowitz, paid for a full-page ad in the student paper denouncing the idea that black descendants of slaves should be paid reparations.
What interested commentators at the time was Ms Simmons refused to comment on the incident, even after student activists pulped all unsold copies of the paper.
But on Sunday there was only jubilation. Chancellor of Brown Stephen Robert introduced Ms Simmons to students as the "exemplification of how education can change a life."
Ms Simmons appointment in November attracted huge support from black scholars. Cornel West, a professor at Harvard University, was quoted as saying: "This is a great day for higher education in America and for the culture. She is one of the most courageous, visionary and effective college presidents in America."