Rutgers names its first Black president

Jonathan Holloway, provost of Northwestern University and a former Stanford football player, has been named president of Rutgers University.

Holloway, 52, a historian specializing in African American studies, replaces Robert Barchi, who announced in July he will step down at the end of the 2019-20 school year.

JONATHAN HOLLOWAY

Holloway is the first person of color to lead the university, following 20 white male presidents who oversaw it for 253 years. Students and faculty members had suggested the university make diversity a priority in the hiring process, saying Rutgers leadership should reflect the student body.

About 35 percent of Rutgers students are white.

This article originally published in the January 27, 2019 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.