Marilyn Simons: Legion of Honor! ​(#215)

Dr. Marilyn Hawrys Simons received a B.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from SUNY, Stony Brook and has volunteered in the non‑profit sector for the last thirty years. In 1994, she co‑founded the Simons Foundation together with her husband, Jim Simons, and served as its President until June 2021. Asteroid 10701 Marilynsimons is named after her!

The Simons Foundation is a charitable organization that was founded to fund basic research and educational programs in mathematics, physical and life sciences. The Foundation’s vision and generosity in also underwriting symposia, visiting lectureships and initiating programs at underserved institutions in the United States and abroad has helped to advance knowledge in a diverse spectrum of fields. She recently retired as President of the Simons Foundation and received the Legion d'Honaire, the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, it has been retained by all later French governments and régimes.

Her primary focus being education, Marilyn has served for the past eight years as the President of the Board of Learning Spring Elementary School, a school for children with autistic spectrum disorders. She also sits on the board of the East Harlem Tutorial Program, an after-school teaching program in East Harlem. In 2008, Dr. Simons joined the Cold Spring Harbor Board of Trustees.

At a personal level, Marilyn Simons has supported programs promoting an increased diversity and improved equity in science and economics. In 2013, she was awarded the Carnegie Medal for Philanthropy, for her extraordinary and pre‑eminent role in philanthropy. Marilyn is involved in various education initiatives and serves as a board member for many prestigious scientific institutions, including the American National Museum of Mathematics.

Through the Simons Foundation, Marilyn Simons has played an essential role in supporting the Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques's (IHÉS) ambition to develop greater financial independence. Over the course of two decades, the Simons Foundation has given more than $25 million to both specific projects, such as the building of the conference center that carries the names of Marilyn and Jim Simons, and to the Institute’s endowment, for example for the creation of the Simons Foundation Biology Fund at IHES. The Simons recently pledged an additional €25 million to support the institute over the next ten years.

In 2021, in recognition of her contributions and achievements, the French Ambassador to the U.S. Philippe Etienne awarded Marilyn Simons the French Legion of Honor during a special ceremony

Watch this fireside chat with Marilyn Simons held at the Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques (IHÉS) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkfi6ZMMphk

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