THE AMERICAN Academy of Arts ad Sciences is one of the most hallowed intellectual institutions in American history. It was founded in 1780 to promote scholarship in the arts and sciences. John Adams was its first president. The Academy, which has come a long way from its beginnings as an aristocratic preserve of learning, is in the news because its second female president faces accusations that she lied on grants and misrepresented her academic credentials, saying she had a doctorate when she did not. Leslie Cohen Berlowitz makes $598,000 as the organization’s president. The board says its stands by her and doubts the charges. She blames the error on her staff.

Regardless of whether Berlowitz lied, one wonders how a woman who has never authored a book on her own, does not possess great academic distinction and whose highest previous position was as director of institutional development for New York University achieved such an exalted position and such high remuneration. The Academy has apparently gone the way of other liberal institutions: to the elevation of mediocrity.

Interestingly, Berlowitz is known for what the New York Times calls a “sharp-elbowed management style.” This is a nice way of saying she was hated by her underlings. How utterly surprising. As we all know women in management are always conciliatory and congenial. That’s why we need women at the top to change the world.

Please follow and like us: