At a Richmond luncheon for Harvard alums last week, Drew Faust was introduced as not just the first woman to be Harvard president, but the first Southerner, which is actually kind of interesting. I'd like to hear or read someone's thoughts about how that side of her persona might affect her leadership style.

Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star columnist Ed Jones, himself a Harvard alum, liked what he saw from Faust.

She has a way of mixing the funny with the weighty. And she's a good listener, a description that didn't fit her predecessor.

Asked if her gender helps shape her presidency, Fausted noted with a smile that some have said that her strengths match those often associated with female leaders. But then she suggested that her brother in the audience might want to comment on whether she really is "kinder and gentler."

Isn't it interesting how Faust can ascribe specific qualities to a gender without getting in trouble?

(As opposed, of course, to her predecessor.)