Sylvia Mathews Burwell

Sylvia Mathews Burwell official portrait

Sylvia Mary Burwell (née Mathews; born June 23, 1965) is an American government and non-profit executive who has been the 15th president of American University since June 1, 2017. Burwell is the first woman to serve as the university's president. Burwell earlier served as the 22nd United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. President Barack Obama nominated Burwell on April 11, 2014. Burwell's nomination was confirmed by the Senate on June 5, 2014, by a vote of 78–17. She served as Secretary until the end of the Obama administration. Previously, she was the Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget from 2013 to 2014.

Quotes

• Together, we became the first university to achieve carbon neutrality; grew our endowment by approximately 60 percent (from just over $600 million in 2017 to approximately $950 million now); launched the Sine Institute for Policy and Politics and the Khan Cyber and Economic Security Institute,"
• The university has a "great team of leaders in place who are partnering with our great faculty, staff, alumni, and students to shepherd us into our next chapter of impact."
• Fighting Ebola as HHS Secretary, flying around the world for the Gates Foundation, or leading this university."
  • Sylvia Burwell to step down as American University's president NBC4 Washington (August 8, 2023)
• This hateful act of antisemitism is reprehensible. Jewish students live in both rooms where the doors were vandalized," Burwell wrote. "When we are so deeply focused on our community of care – supporting each and every member of our community who is in pain and feeling scared and vulnerable –it is unacceptable that our Jewish community was targeted and harmed through this act. Hate speech will not be tolerated.”
• I ask that as a community we recognize that our Jewish and Israeli community members and families are frightened. Our Muslim and Palestinian community members and families are frightened,”
• Acts of hate, intimidation, and dehumanization cannot be the way we live together and treat one another. This includes physical threats, as well as online harassment and doxxing. No matter your background, ethnicity, or faith, everyone has a right to feel safe.
  • Swastikas, Nazi Slogans Graffitied on Dorm Room Doors at American University The Messanger (21 October 2023)