Gray, Hanna Holborn (1930–)

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Gray, Hanna Holborn (1930–)

American educator. Born Hanna Holborn in Heidelberg, Germany, Oct 25, 1930; 2nd child and only dau. of Hajo Holborn (European historian and educator) and Annemarie (Bettmann) Holborn; immigrated to US, 1934; naturalized citizen, 1940; Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, AB, 1950; attended St. Anne's College, Oxford University, as a Fulbright Scholar, 1950–51; Harvard University, PhD, 1957; m. Charles Montgomery Gray (educator), June 19, 1954; no children.

Began teaching career at Harvard University, quickly advancing to the rank of assistant professor of history; moved with husband to Chicago (1960), where he was an associate professor at University of Chicago; after a year as research fellow at Newberry Library, also joined the university faculty as an assistant professor of history; by 1964, had obtained tenure and been promoted to associate professor; with husband, edited Journal of Modern History; served as 1st woman dean of arts and sciences at Northwestern University (1972–74); became provost of Yale (1974), the 1st woman in that post, then acting president (1977); served as president of University of Chicago (1978–93), the 1st woman to serve as chief executive officer of a major American coeducational institution.

See also Women in World History.