Prior to the dramatic end of the 2017 Oscars, President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) Cheryl Boone Issacs ’71 reminded viewers that “art has no borders. Art has no single language. And art does not belong to a single faith.”
The academy has been criticized for its lack of diversity and Boone Isaacs delivered her message of inclusion as she ends her term as president. “I am proud to be part of the evolution of this art form and to see all the new faces among this year’s nominees,” she said.
During her term, Boone Isaacs oversaw a push for more diverse academy membership. Last year, AMPAS invited more than 600 prospective new members: 46 percent were women, 41 percent were people of color, and 41 percent were from abroad.
