Kristine E. Guillaume, born to a Chinese mother and Haitian father, has been elected as the first black woman president of the Harvard Crimson, the student newspaper at the prestigious institute, reports World Journal.

Kristine E. Guillaume at the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Saturday, November 24, 2018. [Photo: IC]

Guillaume, a 20-year-old junior majoring in literature, history, and African-American studies, will lead the newspaper for the 2018-2019 school year. The publication has had two black presidents before Guillaume in its 145-year history. Distinguished past editors include former presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy.

Guillaume has served as one of the paper's central administration reporters, and co-chairs the paper's Diversity and Inclusivity Committee. To lead The Crimson's "146th guard", Guillaume won the job with a promise to steer the paper toward a more diverse and digital future.

"If my being elected to the Crimson presidency as the first black woman affirms anyone's sense of belonging at Harvard, then that will continue to affirm the work that I'm doing," said Guillaume.

Guillaume, whose parents are both physicians, said she developed her interest in journalism when she was growing up in Queens.

"Both of my parents have a strong emphasis on education and knowing what's going on in the world around us," said Guillaume. "They were always very encouraging of us to break out of our middle school or high school problems and think about larger forces at play."