Wilson, Linda S., 1936-

Linda S. Wilson, seventh president of Radcliffe College was appointed in 1989 and inaugurated in 1990.

Linda (Smith) Wilson, president of Radcliffe College, daughter of Fred M. and Virginia (Thompson) Smith, received her A.B. from Newcomb College (1957) and Ph. D. (1962) from the University of Wisconsin. She married Paul Allaby Wilson and they have two children: Helen Whateley and Beth Wilson. After research and teaching in chemistry, Wilson became a university administrator and was appointed seventh (and last) president of Radcliffe on July 1, 1989. During her tenure, she oversaw the creation of several new programs: the Radcliffe Public Policy Institute (RPPI), engaging in interdisciplinary research on work and the economy; the Graduate Consortium in Women's Studies, a pioneering program to advance women's studies; and the Radcliffe Research Partnership Program, bringing undergraduates to work with Radcliffe scholars and staff. 1994 saw the celebration of Radcliffe's centennial charter anniversary and in 1996, the launch of the capital campaign. In 1995 Wilson announced plans to "reframe" the college into two major branches: Radcliffe Education Programs and Radcliffe Institutes of Advanced Study. CORE, a new advisory leadership group, the President's Advisory Council (PAC) of leaders of the research units, and the Joint Council (comprising exempt and non-exempt workers) mandated by the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers, gave new administrative structure to the college.

At Harvard, Wilson participated in the Council of Deans and the Joint Policy Committee--a forum for discussion of issues of common interest to Radcliffe and Harvard. Wilson resigned on June 30, 1999, and was succeeded by Mary Maples Dunn who served as acting president (July-September 1999) and acting dean (Sept 1999-December 2000). Nancy Beth Sheer, chair of the Radcliffe Board of Trustees and Neil L. Rudenstine signed the agreement to merge Radcliffe College with Harvard University and to establish the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study on September 14, 1999.

Linda (Smith) Wilson (LSW), chemist and seventh president of Radcliffe College, was born in Washington, D.C. on November 10, 1936 to Fred M. and Virginia D. (Thompson) Smith. She graduated with honors from H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College for Women in 1957 and earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Wisconsin in 1962. Wilson was selected as "One of 100 Emerging Leaders" by the American Council on Education and Change (1978). She was honored with the Distinguished Contribution to Research Administration Award from the Society of Research Administrators (1984). Wilson received a Centennial Award for Outstanding Accomplishments from Newcomb College (1986); Distinguished Service Award, University of Ilinois College of Medicine (1987); the Valeria A. Knapp Distinguished Educator Award, College Club of Boston (1992); an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Newcomb College, Tulane University (1993); an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Maryland (1993); and the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Wisconsin (1997).

After conducting research and teaching at the University of Maryland, the University of Southampton (England), and the University of Missouri at St. Louis, she began a second career in university administration. She served successively in senior administrative positions at Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and prior to assuming office at Radcliffe College, as vice-president for research at the University of Michigan.

Wilson became the seventh president of Radcliffe College on July 1, 1989, and was inaugurated on February 23, 1990. During her tenure, Wilson oversaw the creation of several institutes and programs at Radcliffe, expanding its educational arena. In 1991 she initiated the Radcliffe Research Partnership Program as part of a commitment to increase the opportunities for undergraduates to work with Radcliffe scholars and staff. She established the Radcliffe Public Policy Institute [RPPI] in 1993, which sponsored interdisciplinary research and convened scholars, policymakers, business and labor leaders, and members of the media to explore work and the economy, and science, gender, and society. With Boston-area women's studies scholars, Wilson launched the Graduate Consortium in Women's Studies, also in 1993. This program was a pioneering effort by faculty at six degree-granting institutions in the Boston area and Radcliffe College to advance women's studies scholarship.

In 1994, Wilson led the College in celebration of Radcliffe's Charter Anniversary. She established the Radcliffe Junior Faculty Fellowship at the Mary Ingraham Bunting Institute to promote tenure parity for women at Harvard University. Radcliffe's Board of Trustees and Wilson announced their plan to "reframe" the College's educational programs in 1995. By 1996 Radcliffe was officially composed of two major branches: the Radcliffe Educational Programs and the Radcliffe Institutes for Advanced Study. The Campaign for Radcliffe, the largest capital campaign in the College's history, was launched by Wilson in 1996. Wilson and other College leaders embarked on a ten-city National Outreach Tour to solicit alumnae views about Radcliffe.

Wilson initiated several administrative structures during her term including CORE, an advisory leadership group; the Joint Council (mandated by the Harvard University Clerical and Technical Workers), which was comprised of exempt and non-exempt Radcliffe staff to give advice to units on labor issues; the President's Advisory Council (PAC), comprised of directors of research units, vice-presidents, and heads of administrative departments to advise Wilson on administrative operations; and the Leadership Council, which was comprised of alumnae and donors, whose purpose was to be a group of "ambassadors of Radcliffe College" to the general public and other alumnae. Wilson also participated in the Joint Policy Committee, originally set up during the earlier Harvard/Radcliffe merger negotiations in 1971 to discuss issues of common interest. Its range of topics was limited: property, financial exchanges mandated by the 1977 agreements, appointments of house masters of Quad houses; deans and directors of admissions, financial aid and athletics. It never discussed faculty or curricular issues. On September 19, 1999 Nancy Beth Sheer, chairman of the Radcliffe Board of Trustees and President Neil Rudenstine signed the historic agreement to merge Radcliffe College with Harvard University and to establish the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. She stepped down as President of Radcliffe College on June 30, 1999.

In addition to Wilson's leadership at Radcliffe College, she was also active in the national science policy arena. She was noted for her efforts to develop cooperative working relationships among universities, government, and industry and for her attention to individual, institutional, and systemic issues in the professional development of science and engineering personnel. She served on numerous boards and advisory committees during her term as President of Radcliffe: the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences (1986-1989), its Finance Committee (1986-1989), its Committee on Government-Industry Research Collaboration in Biomedical Research and Education (1988-1989), and its Membership Coordinating Council for Education (1991-1993); Energy Research Advisory Board, U.S. Department of Energy (1986-1990); Task Force on the University Research Enterprise in the Future, Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable, National Academy of Sciences (1988-1992); Advisory Committee on Education and Human Resources, National Science Foundation (1990-1995); Advisory Council on Science and Engineering Personnel (1990-1996); Governing Board and Executive Committee, National Research Council (1990-1996); Office of Scientific and Engineering Personnel National Research Council (1990-1996) and its Coordinating Council for Education (1991-1993); Science, Technology and the States Task Force, Carnegie Commission on Science, Technology and Government (1991-1993); Commission on Women in Higher Education, American Council on Education (member, 1991-1993, and chair, 1993); Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation, Boston Chapter (1991-1995); Advisory Committee for College-University Resource Institute's Women in Chemistry Consortium (1991-1995); Advisory Group on Renewing U.S. Science Policy, Subcommittee on Science, U.S. House of Representatives (1992-1993); Museum of Science, Boston, MA (1992-1998); General Hospital Corporation of the Massachusetts General Hospital (1992-); WGBH Board of Advisors for Women in Science Project (1993-1994); Whitehead Institute (1995-1998); Committee on Economic Development (1995-); Citizens Financial Groups, Inc. (1996-); New England Colleges Fund (1997-2000); Advisory Board of the Women's Museum (1997-); Inacom Corporation (1997-); Partners Health Care (1998-) and its committee on Professional Conduct and Conflict of Interest (1998-1999); Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (1998-); Dean's Advisory Committee, Newcomb College (1998-); and Value Line, Inc. (1998-).

Wilson is married to Paul Allaby Wilson. They are the parents of two daughters: Helen Whatley and Beth Wilson.