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American Philosophical Society Announces Appointment of Mary Patterson McPherson as Executive Officer

The American Philosophical Society has named Mary Patterson McPherson as its new Executive Officer effective July 1, 2007. She succeeds Mary Maples Dunn and Richard S. Dunn who will retire after serving five years as Co-Executive Officers. Upon making the announcement President Baruch S. Blumberg stated, "Her philosophy, her experience, and her dedication will certainly continue the Society's tradition and strengthen its mission."

Mary Patterson McPhersonDr. McPherson was Vice President of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and its Program Officer for the Liberal Arts Colleges from 1997 through March 2007. Prior to joining the Foundation, she served nineteen years as the sixth president of Bryn Mawr College. She is widely credited with renewing and revitalizing Bryn Mawr and enhancing its stature during a time when the role of women's colleges was being challenged. She had also been Dean of the Undergraduate College, Deputy to the President, and associate professor of philosophy from 1970 to 1978. Between 1964 and 1970 she was Assistant Dean, then Associate Dean of the College at Bryn Mawr. She received her A.B. from Smith College, an M.A. from the University of Delaware, and a Ph.D. from Bryn Mawr College. Dr. McPherson holds numerous honorary degrees. 

Complementing her academic and administrative services, Dr. McPherson has served on a variety of boards, currently including: the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, the Teagle Foundation, JSTOR, the Philadelphia Contributionship, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, and Emeriti Retirement Health Solutions. Her prominence in the fields of education and public policy has also led her to serve on the boards of the Agnes Irwin School, Exeter Academy, Shipley School, Amherst College, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the Brookings Institution, the Spencer Foundation, Bank Street College, and the National Humanities Center. She is presently chair of the board of trustees at her alma mater, Smith College.

Elected to the APS in 1983, Dr. McPherson has been an active participant in Society affairs and a strong supporter of its programs. She has attended nearly every semi-annual meeting since her election, and served as a vice president for six years. She has served on the Executive Committee, the Finance Committee, the Nomination of Officers Committee, the Class V Membership Committee, and the Jefferson Medal Selection Committee. In addition, she has played a prominent role in the Society's fundraising program by not only serving on the Development Committee but chairing the Annual Fund campaign for three consecutive years. She was elected a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 1993.