How ironic — and disturbing — it is that, on the same day that you run an important story on the critical need to attract young girls into STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) careers, you feature a denigrating, cartoonlike caricature of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute President Shirley Ann Jackson. Time magazine has described her as "perhaps the ultimate role model for women in science."
Dr. Jackson has led an extraordinary transformation of Rensselaer during her 14-year tenure, elevating the institute to a top tier, globally recognized, research university.
More than $1.25 billion has been invested in the Rensselaer Plan, including the physical transformation of the Troy campus. Rresearch funding has tripled, and there has been an exponential expansion of academic and impactful research programs with world-class people.
This growth continues to have a significant economic impact on the region, creating new jobs, new companies and new opportunities.
Dr. Jackson's salary, set by the Board of Trustees, is a reflection of the value she brings to Rensselaer. Her salary is public information, and the Times Union can report it, but you also have the obligation to report it accurately; differentiating between annual salary and periodic accrued deferred compensation payments. And one would hope that you would have a sense of responsibility of putting it in the context of the value that she brings to the region.
Rensselaer is an attractor — extraordinary students, world-class faculty and global partners — because excellence attracts excellence. It is Dr. Jackson's vision and dedicated efforts in leading Rensselaer, and as a national spokeswoman on important issues, that have made it so. She is an asset to the region who should be celebrated, not denigrated.
Allison Newman
Acting vice president
for strategic communications
and external relations,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy