Frances D. Fergusson

President and Professor of Art (1986-2006), now Emerita. A graduate of Wellesley College, she holds her Ph.D. in art history from Harvard University and has published widely in her field of architectural history. Tenured at the University of Massachusetts, Bucknell University, and Vassar. Recipient of three honorary degrees (University of London, Hartford, and Bard) and many awards, including the Centennial Medal of Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (1999) and the Harvard Medal for Outstanding Service to the University (2011). Fran was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2002. Fran was Chair of the Board of the Mayo Clinic and President of the Board of Overseers of Harvard University. She served on the Boards of the Ford Foundation, the Getty Trust, the National Humanities Center, and the Ringling Museum. She is currently on the Boards of the School of American Ballet, the American Academy Trust, the American Council of Learned Societies, 2nd Stage Theatre, and the Sarasota Opera. She was previously on the Boards of several corporations, including HSBC USA, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, and Mattel.

See more of Frances Daly Fergusson’s bio in the Vassar Encyclopedia.