Top Of The Ivory Tower

PHOTO BY DANIEL LIPPI TT

•

with what the dai-
ly issues are for fac-
ulty and students,"
she said. "That
doesn't always re-
quire teaching, but
one of the issues I'll
be working to do is
make sure I don't
get isolated from
istrator. The issues that beset
where the real
the university are the issues I
work is being done
think about a lot in my work, so
in terms of acade-
it was a natural gravitation," she
mic mission."
said.
The highest-
In fact, Cantor sees a direct
ranking woman on
link between her research on so-
campus, Cantor
cial intelligence and the chal-
says she has expe-
lenges she will face as provost.
rienced little sexism
For example, her research fo-
in her career and is
cuses on how to maximize cre-
pleased overall
ativity in an academic
with U-M's "tradi-
institution and how to engage
tion of working to
collectively people with different
promote women
perspectives and life experi-
and to bring women
ences. She has also studied is-
to the table of influ-
sues of diversity and affirmative
ence."
action.
Nonetheless, she
Recently appointed to provost Nancy Cantor: U-M's highest-ranking woma n.
sees room for im-
by U-M President Lee Bollinger,
provement. "I think
Cantor will oversee faculty and brings forth fresh ideas and ... is
academic affairs and a $2.7 bil- in service to the state and to the it's very encouraging to have a
woman provost, but I also think
lion annual budget. Her role will nation."
be somewhat akin to that of a
While she is excited about her it shouldn't mean that we stop
tightrope walker: balancing com- new duties, Cantor does not thinking about the distance we
peting interests within the uni- want her teaching and research still have to travel to fully inte-
versity, with the ultimate goal to fall by the wayside. "It's im- grate diverse perspectives and
of creating a fiscally responsible portant for academic adminis- life experiences into the acade-
"community of scholars that trators to be as close in touch mic setting at large," she said.

Psychology professor Nancy Cantor
becomes U-M's first woman provost.

JULIE WIENER STAFF WRITER

I

n a career spanning less than
20 years, Dr. Nancy Cantor
has quickly climbed the aca-
demic ladder, shattering any
glass ceilings in her way.
This fall, she will become the
first woman to serve as provost
and executive vice president of
the University of Michigan.
A professor of psychology, the
45-year-old Cantor has spent her
entire career alternating be-
tween positions at U-M and
Princeton University. Beginning
her academic career as an as-
sistant professor at Princeton
(after receiving a Ph.D. from
Stanford University), she spent
eight years at U-M, followed by
five years in Princeton, return-
ing to Ann Arbor in 1996.
Currently dean of U-M's Ho-
race H. Rackham School of
Graduate Studies, Cantor says
her transition from scholar to
administrator has been gradual,
with both roles interconnected.
"I don't feel like I ever set on
some path to become an admin-

A native of New York City,
Cantor grew up in a Jewish
home that was not religious but
in which heavy emphasis was
placed on education and "the life
of the mind."
Indeed, the academic world
has played a central role in Can-
tor's life. In addition to her own
career in the ivory tower, Can-
tor's mother was a professor at
Fordham University in New
York and Cantor's husband,
Steve Brechin — with whom she
has two children — is a profes-
sor in U-M's School of Natural
Resources.
In addition to the emphasis
on learning, Cantor says her
Jewish background influenced
her interest in social activism
and in making the university a
diverse, accessible place.
"Many of the perspectives I
have with social activism and
the need for a diverse group to
have access to the institution
stems from past struggles of
Jews to gain access to educa-
tional opportunities," she said.
Although not active in Ann
Arbor's Jewish community,
Cantor attributes this to the
demands of her career and not
to a lack of interest. "I haven't
had time to be involved in a
whole lot of anything," she con-
fessed. ❑

Detroit's Original Discounter

LEVIN'S BEAUTY SUPPLY

New Arrivals
for Spring:

0.P.1 South Seas

Polish Collection
1 2 NEW Essie
Polish colors

One more reason
kids wear our clothes.

Levins New
Spring Colors:
11 Lipsticks
12 Eye Shadows
2 Blushes
3 Lip Glosses
6 Waterproof
Eyeliner Pencils

Professional Hair & Nail
Supplies, Including
NAILTIQUES

West Bloomfield

851 7323

-

Orchard Lake Road In The
West Bloomfield Plaza

Oak Park
547-9669
24695 Coolidge At
10 Mile Road

Open .111-Sat. 9-6 • Closed Sun. • Thurs. Til 8 p.m.

s

.16

.7

7.1

o

77

a w E .3 7: ,I.i 01

Y 4

11

■

Cu a D. 1ir