Maurie McInnis

Maurie McInnis is the twenty-fourth president of Yale University and a professor in the Department of the History of Art. McInnis is a cultural historian who has authored five books, several of which have received awards, focusing on the intersection of art and politics in early America, with particular emphasis on the American South and the history of slavery. Her academic work has appeared in peer-reviewed journals, anthologies, and exhibition catalogs, contributing to scholarship in art history, American studies, and higher education leadership.

Before returning to Yale, McInnis served as president of Stony Brook University, where she oversaw institutional advancement, including securing a $500 million unrestricted endowment from the Simons Foundation, the largest of its kind for a U.S. higher education institution. She also contributed to regional economic development and research, managed Stony Brook Medicine, and participated in the oversight of Brookhaven National Laboratory. Her previous positions include provost and executive vice president at the University of Texas at Austin and vice provost for academic affairs at the University of Virginia.

As president of Yale, McInnis has focused on expanding educational opportunities, fostering academic excellence, and strengthening the university’s partnerships locally and globally. She has supported initiatives such as developing a quantum corridor in Connecticut, launching fellowships for local teachers, and expanding the undergraduate student body. As the first non-interim woman to lead Yale, McInnis advocates for diversity, inclusion, and the role of higher education in society. Her public engagement with faculty, students, and alumni reflects her commitment to collaborative leadership and the advancement of academic and civic life.