Lynn Perry Wooten

About Lynn

Lynn Perry Wooten (Boston) is the first African American President of Simmons University. Prior to Simmons, she served as the David J. Nolan Dean and professor of Management and Organizations at the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University. With leadership at the core of Lynn’s work, her research has ranged from an NIH-funded investigation of how leadership can alleviate health disparities to leading in a crisis and managing workforce diversity. Lynn also has a robust clinical practice, providing leadership development training for a wide variety of organizations.

• Current Role

  9th President of Simmons University

• Education

  Certificate in Advanced Educational Leadership, Harvard University Graduate School of Education

  Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration, University of Michigan Ross School of Business

  Master of Business Administration, Duke University Fuqua School of Business

  Bachelor of Science in Accounting (Valedictorian), North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University [Historically Black College & University]

• Boards, Committees & Memberships

  Advisory Board Member, Aspen Institute’s Business and Society Program
  Board Member, Center for Effective Philanthropy
  Board Member, University of Michigan Alumni Association
  Member, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
  Member, Jack & Jill of America
  Member, Junior League
  Member, The Links Inc.

• Honors & Publications

  Honors
  BBA Student Award for Teaching Excellence, University of Michigan Ross School of Business
  Andy Andrews Distinguished Service Award
  “Next Generation Business Thinker” Selection, The Financial Times

  Publications
  Positive Organizing in a Global Society: Understanding and Engaging Differences for Capacity Building and Inclusion (Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, 2016)

  Leading Under Pressure: From Surviving to Thriving Before, During, and After a Crisis (Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, 2010).