Ahead of a possible IPO, financial services and payments company Square is strengthening its board with a new addition today–educator Ruth Simmons.
Simmons previously served as President of Brown University from 2001-2012, and President of Smith College from 1995-2000, where she established the first engineering program at an American women’s college.
Simmons is no stranger to public company boards and currently serves on the boards of Texas Instruments, and Chrysler. She also previously sat on the Goldman Sachs Board of Directors.
It’s worth noting Simmons isn’t the first woman on Square’s board. Kleiner Perkins partner Mary Meeker also sits on the company’s board of directors. And Simmons is the second African-American to join Square’s board; basketball great Earvin “Magic” Johnson joined the board earlier this year.
Square’s board includes Square co-founder Jack Dorsey, Sequoia partner and investor Roelof Botha, Khosla Ventures partner and investor Vinod Khosla, Square co-founder Jim McKelvey, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Larry Summers, and Former Goldman Sachs CFO David Viniar.