The Claims of Life: A Memoir

by Diana Chapman Walsh

The engaging memoir of a legendary president of Wellesley College known for authentic and open-hearted leadership, who drove innovation with power and love.

The Claims of Life traces the emergence of a young woman who set out believing she wasn’t particularly smart but went on to meet multiple tests of leadership in the American academy—a place where everyone wants to be heard and no one wants a boss. In college, Diana Chapman met Chris Walsh, who became a towering figure in academic science. Their marriage of fifty-seven years brought them to the forefront of revolutions in higher education, gender expectations, health-care delivery, and biomedical research.

The Claims of Life offers readers an unusually intimate view of trustworthy leadership that begins and ends in self-knowledge. During a transformative fourteen-year Wellesley presidency, Walsh advanced women’s authority, compassionate governance, and self-reinvention. After Wellesley, Walsh’s interests took her to the boards of five national nonprofits galvanizing change. She kept counsel with Nobel laureates, feminist icons, and even the Dalai Lama, seeking solutions to the world’s climate crisis.

With an ear tuned to social issues, The Claims of Life is an inspiring account of a life lived with humor, insight, and meaning that will surely leave a lasting impression on its readers.

Genres: Memoir

360 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2023

Reviews

[Nancy Murphy]

Diana Chapman Walsh, former president of Wellesley College, describes her remarkable personal journey -- family, friends, career-- with humility, honesty, humor and humanity. She was a pioneering practitioner of authentic, holistic (mind and heart) leadership that stems from deep personal knowledge, learning, and reflection and in her case was deeply inspired by the Dalai Lama, feminism and social justice. Of particular interest to me as a Wellesley alumna was her Wellesley presidency -- a rare insider's view of navigating multiple stakeholders and a never-ending stream of social, economic, political, and educational challenges. Her experiences respectfully and inclusively championing change shine a light on the character and resilience that college/university presidents must exercise -- today and always. Walsh's transition out of the limelight to embrace a new phase of life is tremendously insightful as well.

[Meri]

The Claims of Life: A Memoir is a beautifully written memoir by Diana Chapman Walsh (DCW), President Emeritus of Wellesley College. I am grateful to have been a student during DCW's tenure as president and to have witnessed her principled trustworthy leadership in action. This memoir does not hold back from the messiness, heartache, and challenges of leadership. The narrative is full of thoughtful questions, metaphors, stories, and poetry. In a deeply polarized time, Diana Chapman Walsh's words give both hope and homework to a new generation of leaders. It is now a younger generation's time to take up the mantle of the work ahead in higher education and beyond. As a special both the Kindle and beautiful MIT hardcover editions include an appendix with DCW's framework for trustworthy leadership.

[Theresa Timlin]

Terrific memoir and reflection on leadership, particularly how to create trustworthy leadership. Wellesley was clearly lucky to have DCW as President. While her focus is mainly on leadership, there is also a lovely story of her long marriage to (and real partnership with) her husband Chris Walsh.

[Joan N. Boothe]

Diana's memoir, focused on her time as president of Wellesley

[Leigh]

Will be of most interest to people like me who are alums of Wellesley College.

[Cynthia]

DCW was one of my idols as a little girl. Claims of Life opened my eyes, mind, and heart to just how truly remarkable she is and how my star-struck adoration was not misplaced.

[Julie]

Wow! This is the best book about leadership that I’ve read, because Wellesley is part of me. DCW experienced so many challenges, and it was wonderful to read of her heart, knowing of her brilliance and success.

NK was the college president during my Wellesley tenure. At my 35th college reunion, I heard Nan, Diana, Ruth & the current president on a panel about hard decisions. It was a fantastic panel! Had I known that NK & DCW were reunion sisters with my class, I might have gone to earlier reunions!