Judith Shapiro

Judith Shapiro is an American cultural anthropologist and academic administrator renowned for her leadership in higher education and her scholarly work on gender and society. She served as the ninth president of Barnard College, a prominent liberal arts institution affiliated with Columbia University, from 1994 to 2008. Her academic career includes significant faculty and administrative roles at several prestigious universities, and her research has contributed to anthropological understandings of gender roles and social structure.

Early life and education

Born in New York City, Shapiro developed an early interest in human societies. She pursued her undergraduate education at Brandeis University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She then continued her graduate studies at Columbia University, a center for anthropological thought under figures like Margaret Mead and Ruth Benedict. At Columbia, she earned both a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy in anthropology, conducting fieldwork that would shape her future research directions.

Academic career

Shapiro began her teaching career as a faculty member in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Chicago. She later held a professorship at the University of California, Santa Barbara, contributing to its growing social sciences division. A significant step in her administrative path was her appointment as dean of the graduate school and vice president for academic affairs at Bryn Mawr College, a position that prepared her for leading a women's college. Throughout these roles, she was recognized for her commitment to liberal arts education and faculty development.

Presidency of Barnard College

In 1994, Shapiro was inaugurated as president of Barnard College, succeeding Ellen Futter. Her tenure, which lasted until 2008, was marked by substantial growth and modernization. She oversaw major initiatives including the Columbia–Barnard Athletic Consortium, the expansion of the Milstein Center for Teaching and Learning, and the strengthening of Barnard's financial aid programs through campaigns like the Barnard College Campaign. She also navigated the complex relationship with the larger Columbia University, advocating for Barnard's distinctive mission within the Ivy League framework. Her leadership emphasized the importance of women's education in the 21st century.

Research and publications

Shapiro's scholarly work focuses on the anthropology of gender, kinship, and social theory. Her influential research includes studies on gender variance and cultural constructions of identity, with fieldwork conducted in South America. She is the co-author of the notable work Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective with Edwin S. Segal, a widely used text in anthropology courses. Her articles have been published in leading journals such as American Anthropologist and Signs, and she has contributed chapters to volumes like Sexual Meanings edited by Sherry Ortner and Harriet Whitehead.

Awards and honors

For her contributions to anthropology and education, Shapiro has received numerous accolades. She was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She has been awarded honorary degrees from institutions including Middlebury College, University of Pennsylvania, and Mount Holyoke College. Her service has also been recognized by organizations like the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Social Science Research Council.

Category:American anthropologists Category:American women academics Category:Presidents of Barnard College Category:Brandeis University alumni Category:Columbia University alumni