Babson College has chosen Dr.Kerry Healey, a Republican and a former Lt. Governor of Massachusetts, as its next president.
However, some students, faculty members and others have raised certain questions about the qualifications of Healey. Doubts have been raised about her educational qualifications and entrepreneurial experience to lead the business college and they also feel that the search process was incomplete and hasty.
Healey, 52, was elected late March, making her the first woman to lead Babson, effective July 1. She is set to succeed Leonard Schlesinger.
"This is a particularly sweet moment for me, because I spoke to my mother about this, and she told me that she was the first woman in our family to go to college," said Healey. "So I feel particularly honored to be the first woman president of a college only 70 years after she had that honor in our family."
Chelsea Haraty, 20, said that the college community is not satisfied with the appointment because people were unhappy with her politics, such as her opposition to gay marriage while in office.
Meanwhile, they have also created an online petition on Change.org. The petition, which has generated more than 150 signatures, urges the administration to resume the search once again and to consider their suggestions seriously.
In defence, Babson officials claim that they were very impressed with Healy's record as a businesswoman and a politician.
Healey said that she has met with hundreds of members of the Babson community and plans to set up more meetings in response to their concerns and gain trust.
As a president, she hopes to convert this small college into a global institution by establishing relationships with colleges around the world, and to make undergraduate education more affordable and accessible.
She plans to serve as the president till Babson's 100th anniversary in 2019.
Healey served as Gov. Mitt Romney's Lt. Governor from 2003-07 and was Republican National Committee woman. She is a Harvard graduate and earned her Ph. D. degree in political science from Trinity College, Dublin.
In 2007, Healey led a national effort to reduce child homelessness for the National Center on Family Homelessness, brought humanitarian aid to schools for the disabled in Cuba, and has trained female Afghan parliamentarians in Kabul.
In 2008, she was appointed as a founding member of the executive committee of the Department of State's Public-Private Partnership for Justice Reform in Afghanistan by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
From 2010-12, she served as both domestic and foreign policy advisor to Romney's presidential campaign.