President Jackson took office at Rensselaer on July 1, 1999. Over that time, The Rensselaer Plan and The Rensselaer Plan 2024 have been roadmaps for transforming Rensselaer into a world-class technological research university.
Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson
On Dec. 12, the Rensselaer Board of Trustees is hosting a celebration marking President Jackson’s 15th anniversary as president. The celebration will be hosted by American physicist Sylvester “Jim” Gates, and will feature presentations highlighting the programs, platforms, partnerships, and people of Rensselaer. Music will be performed by Aurora Nealand & The Royal Roses.
In her 15 years as president, President Jackson has led a Renaissance at Rensselaer, transforming the Institute into one of the top universities in the world and a model for technological research universities. Rensselaer is addressing large, multifaceted challenges through collaborative and interdisciplinary methods, the combining of interdisciplinary research, experiential education, and advanced technologies. As a result of her leadership, she has created and is continuing to create a transformative experience in the lives of Rensselaer students, grow research in areas that help solve the toughest global challenges of the day, and emphasize innovative teaching for future generations.
To achieve this, President Jackson has introduced “The New Polytechnic,” a new paradigm for teaching, learning, and research—a view of the technological research university as a fresh collaborative endeavor across disciplines, sectors, and global regions. Such a university leads by using advanced technologies to unite a multiplicity of disciplines and perspectives, in order to take on large, multifaceted challenges. It leads by having its students and faculty engage—with intellectual agility, multicultural sophistication, and a global perspective.
As Rensselaer approaches its 200th year, the Institute is highlighting important milestones of how the world has been transformed by the achievements of Rensselaer people—past and present. Inside Rensselaer is showcasing some of the remarkable achievements and anniversaries throughout the year, including notable milestones and alumni and alumnae accomplishments.
