Newsmakers 11/21: Brown University President Christina Paxson

WPRI 12

Updated: Nov 21, 2012 1:44 PM

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - This week on Newsmakers: Brown University President Christina Paxson.

Sworn in four months ago, Paxson is the 19th President at Brown University in its nearly 250-year history. An economist, she comes by way of Princeton University where she served as Dean.

Paxson is taking the reins from former President Ruth Simmons at a time when relations between the Ivy League school and the City of Providence have been strained. Simmons and Providence Mayor Angel Taveras inked a deal earlier this year where Brown agreed to pay the city $32 million over 11 years in lieu of taxes.

Paxson says the deal acted as a "reset" button and she thinks she has "five to seven years" to build a productive relationship with the city and state. Paxson also discusses her vision for the future of Brown and the increase cost of higher education.

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