Smith College Honors Barnard Alumna Dr. Helene Gayle '76
Helene Gayle '76
(Photo by Daemon Baizan) Dr. Helene Gayle '76, president and CEO of CARE, will receive an honorary degree from Smith College at its commencement ceremony on May 20, 2007.
When Gayle joined CARE last year, she became the first woman and first person of color to lead the international aid organization. Before heading CARE, Gayle directed the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's HIV, TB and Reproductive Health Program. Earlier in her career, she served for almost 20 years at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and directed the CDC's National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention.
After graduating from Barnard, Gayle earned her medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania, and her master's in public health degree from Johns Hopkins University. In 1996, Dr. Gayle received the Columbia Medal for ExcellenceLast and at Reunion 2001 Barnard presented her with the Woman of Achievement Award. Last year at Barnard, she gave the annual Distinguished Women in Science Lecture.
The New York Times recently profiled CARE and the central role that women have in the success of its programs. |
