Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson ---- 1999 Becomes 18th president of Reselaer Polytechnic Institute. She is the first woman and the first African-American to hold the position.

 Shirley Ann Jackson

 FREng

  (born August 5, 1946)

On July 1, 1999, Jackson became the 18th president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She was the first woman and first African American to hold this position.

 Since her appointment to president of RPI, Jackson has helped raise over $1 billion in donations for philanthropic causes.^[8] Jackson is leading a strategic initiative called The Rensselaer Plan and much progress has been made towards achieving the Plan's goals.

 She has overseen a large capital improvement campaign, including the construction of an Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center costing $200 million,^[14] and the East Campus Athletic Village. 

She enjoys the ongoing support of the RPI Board of Trustees. On April 26, 2006, the faculty of RPI (including a number of retirees) voted 155 to 149 against a vote of no-confidence in Jackson.^[15] 

 In the Fall of 2007, the Rensselaer Board of Trustees suspended the faculty senate, thus prompting a strong reaction from the Rensselaer community that resulted in various protests including a "teach in".^[16][17]