In February 2020, this Hong Kong–born chemistry professor became the first female provost in the university’s 130-year history, signaling a major cultural shift at one of the most prestigious institutions of higher education in the country. As provost, Lee oversees the allocation of budgetary resources across the entire university and sets educational priorities for the school’s 18,000 students and 2,400 faculty members. In a statement issued upon her appointment, she nodded to the sheer breadth of the job ahead: “I am excited to push the frontiers of knowledge.” Read more: How I Stood Up to Power