Barnard College tapped women and gender legal theorist Laura Rosenbury its ninth college president, officials announced Thursday.
Rosenbury comes to the Upper Manhattan women’s college from the University of Florida, where she is currently dean of its law school.
“It’s an honor to be named Barnard College’s next president,” said Rosenbury in a statement, “and I look forward to carrying forth its legacy as the leading academic institution for the advancement of women.”
Rosenbury succeeds Sian Beilock, who led Barnard since 2017 but is leaving this summer to become the first female president of Dartmouth College. Today’s announcement ends a months-long search process.
“Laura’s appointment is a culmination of a life and career dedicated to empowering women,” said Cheryl Milstein, chair of the Board of Trustees. “She is a committed leader and scholar whose values and passions align with Barnard’s mission.”
Throughout her academic career, Rosenbury taught and was vice dean at the Washington University Law School and has been a visiting professor at Harvard, Stanford, and University of Chicago. She specialized in family law, sexual harassment and abuse, and reproductive rights.
Barnard has been an early adapter of reproductive health policies. Last October, the women’s college announced it would train providers to offer abortion medication on campus by this fall.
“Her expertise spans some of the most pressing women’s and gender issues of our time,” added Ann Sacher, co-chair of the search committee, “so we’re fortunate to have her at the helm ensuring students leave our campus prepared to meet the moment and make their mark on the world.”
Rosenbury has been dean of University of Florida Law since 2015, during which it jumped dozens of spots in the U.S. News law school rankings to 21st among all law schools.
Before that, she was a litigator at Davis Polk & Wardwell, and clerked for judges at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.