Helen F. Giles-Gee, the president of the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, announced that she was stepping down, effective immediately. No reason was given for her departure and she was unavailable for comment. She issued a brief statement which said that “at this time and after serious reflection, I have decided to leave University of the Sciences. I am honored to have served as president and will hold this University dear in my heart.” The chair of the board of trustees issued a complimentary statement and thanked Dr. Giles-Gee for her service.
Dr. Giles-Gee became the 22nd president of the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia in July 2012. Dr. Giles-Gee was the first woman and the first African American president in the nearly 200-year history of the university. Previously, she was the president of Keene State College in Keene, New Hampshire, a post that she held since 2005.
Earlier in her career, Dr. Giles-Gee was provost at Rowan University in New Jersey. She has also served as dean of the School of Professional Studies at SUNY Cortland, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and director of articulation at the University System of Maryland, and executive assistant to the president at Towson State University in Maryland.
A native of Alabama, Dr. Giles-Gee earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychobiology, a master’s degree in science education, and a Ph.D. in measurement, evaluation, and techniques of experimental research, all from the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, she holds a master’s degree in zoology from Rutgers University.
