HOUSTON — (March 12, 2025) — Ruth Simmons, the President’s Distinguished Fellow at Rice University and a pioneering leader in higher education, was awarded the rank of Officer in the French National Order of the Legion of Honor during a special ceremony March 11. The highest decoration bestowed by the French government, the honor recognizes Simmons’ lifelong contributions to the advancement of French arts and culture as well as her leadership in academia and international engagement.
“By pursuing my French studies, I discovered something that upended my notion of what I could be,” said Simmons, who spoke during the ceremony about the effect French studies had on her, beginning in her days as a student. “Casting aside all the predictions of what I could be by virtue of my race, I embraced learning as the antidote to the ignorance that afflicted so many and worked on opening up my mind to different people and limitless possibilities.
“I never thought that my French studies would take me to the heights that I experienced, but I knew that French would give me a more capacious and rigorous intellect, a more generous spirit to support those different from me and a will to strive for the elevation of my own culture.”
French Ambassador Laurent Bili and Consul General Valérie Baraban presented the award during a special ceremony at Rice’s Cohen House. The event included esteemed guests, faculty and students who gathered to celebrate Simmons’ remarkable career and dedication to fostering global academic connections.
“It is fitting that Dr. Simmons receives the distinction of Officer of the Legion of Honor, an honor that reflects not only her extraordinary impact on higher education but also her deep and enduring ties to France through her early studies in French literature and the French language,” Rice President Reginald DesRoches said. “Rice is privileged to have Dr. Simmons as a President’s Distinguished Fellow, where her wisdom and leadership continues to inspire our students and faculty today.”
Bili bestowed the distinction of Officer to Simmons “in honor of your unwavering commitment to education, knowledge, justice and human dignity,” he said.
“Dr. Simmons, your life is a testament to the power of education and the boundless potential of the humanities,” Bili said. “You defied the rules, forging your own path with iron resolve and an insatiable thirst for learning. Your career has always been stitched in the humanities, which became both a tool and a refuge for you, offering not only knowledge but also the chance to reenvision your world.”
Simmons has had a profound impact on higher education throughout her career. She previously served as president of Prairie View A&M University, Smith College and Brown University, where she was the first Black woman to lead an Ivy League institution. A fluent French speaker, Simmons earned her doctorate in Romance languages and literatures from Harvard University and has written extensively on French-speaking authors and poets in addition to serving as a French professor.
She was previously recognized by the French government in 2012 when she was named Chevalier of the Legion of Honor by decree of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Throughout her career, Simmons has championed the importance of international experiences in higher education, believing that cross-cultural engagement is vital in developing competent global citizens and leaders. During her tenure at Brown, she launched the Plan for Academic Enrichment, which emphasized international engagement and encouraged faculty and students to conduct research abroad. Her influence in global education extends to Rice, where she has played a key advisory role in expanding the university’s international reach, including the establishment of the Rice Global Paris Center in 2022.
Among her other accomplishments, Simmons received the National Humanities Medal from President Joe Biden in 2024 — the highest honor awarded by the U.S. government for intellectual achievement in the humanities. She delivered a powerful lecture, “Confronting History to Find a Better Future,” at the Smithsonian National Museum in Washington, emphasizing the role of humanities in shaping a just and informed society.
Simmons’ legacy continues to inspire generations of students, scholars and leaders. Her recently published memoir, “Up Home: A Young Girl’s Journey,” chronicles her life from growing up in segregated Texas to becoming one of the most influential voices in academia. In her reflections, she pays tribute to France and French literature, crediting them with broadening her perspective and shaping her intellectual pursuits.