Tokyo Medical University on Tuesday selected its first woman president in a decision seemingly aimed at restoring public trust in the university in the wake of a series of scandals, including its unfair treatment of female applicants.
Yukiko Hayashi, 56, head of the university's pathophysiology department, was approved by the university's board of regents on Tuesday. Her three-year term will start on Oct. 1.
According to university sources, Hayashi obtained a majority of valid votes at an election involving professors on Sept. 19, defeating a male chief professor.
The post of school board chairman remains vacant following the resignation of the former chairman, who stepped down alongside the former president. Despite efforts to name a successor, so far no time frame has been set for the selection process.
"I feel great responsibility," Hayashi said on Tuesday. "I will implement fair entrance examinations starting next academic year. I also want to sincerely and appropriately deal with the people who suffered disadvantageous treatment when they took the university's entrance examinations in the past."
Hayashi graduated from the university in 1986. She became a chief professor at the university in August 2013.
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