Faust Scores a Bit of ‘Glamour’

Drew G. Faust might be known more as an academic light than a pop-culture icon. But she took a step toward becoming the latter this week as Glamour magazine named the Harvard president as one of its “Women of the Year.”

The women’s magazine, which focuses on fashion and beauty, is releasing its annual list—featuring women from the fields of entertainment, business, and science—in its December issue.

“When I said I’m not the ‘woman president of Harvard,’ I meant I’m not a president with an asterisk,” said Faust, who was honored alongside 20 other women at a ceremony in New York on Monday. “However, I am the president of Harvard who is also a woman, and that says that a woman can be president of Harvard.”

Harvard’s president wasn’t the only academic recognized by the magazine. Honored alongside Faust were the three other female Ivy League presidents, Amy Gutmann ’71 of the University of Pennsylvania, Ruth J. Simmons of Brown, and Shirley M. Tilghman of Princeton.

“There’s a kind of evolving friendship and professional relationship that I value very much,” Faust said of sharing the award with her fellow Ivy presidents.

This year’s winners, who were nominated by a board of about 200 past Glamour women, include actress Jennifer Garner, fashion designer Donna Karan, and political figures such as Elizabeth Edwards and Nancy Pelosi.

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner, was noticeably absent from the list.

Glamour editor Lauren S. Brody said in a phone interview yesterday that in compiling its list, the magazine looks for women who have “broken barriers.”

“This year Dr. Faust was toward the top of the list, so we were really excited that she agreed to be honored,” Brody added. “We really feel like the women of the year are really the stories of the year.”

The ceremony, held at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall, was attended by the award recipients and high school girls, who could look to the awardees as role models.

As Singer Mariah Carey began her performance before the packed concert hall, “all the girls in the upper balcony just started shrieking,” Faust said.

“I looked at Amy [Gutmann] and said, ‘Good grief, this is not how we usually spend our time.”