UW-Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin took a trip to Amherst College for a ceremony introducing her as the soon-to-be president. Martin is leaving her Wisconsin after being heavily recruited by the Massachusetts college.
Jide Zeitlin, who led the committee to screen candidates, said panel members were very impressed by the chancellor. Martin was mutually pleased saying the search committee was a key reason she took the job.
Martin, who’s been embroiled in a political battle, believes Amherst will let her exercise “both the political and the poetic.” She cites prose from French/Algerian poet Helene Cixous. “The political without the poetic kills and the opposite is also true.”
The speech was light-hearted as she recalls her rural roots in a family who did not believe women should be educated. “They thought maybe it was the ruination of girls.” The openly gay acedemic said. “They may think they were right.” The crowd responded with laughter.
Martin has been UW-Madison Chancellor since 2008 and will leave later this summer.
