Columbia University’s President Minouche Shafik has announced her resignation, effective August 14, 2024. This decision comes in the wake of significant campus protests that occurred towards the end of the last spring semester. In a letter to the Columbia community, Shafik expressed her sadness while highlighting her pride in the progress made during her tenure.
Shafik has faced intense scrutiny regarding the university’s response to pro-Palestinian demonstrations, which included a request for NYPD intervention that led to over 100 arrests in May. Reflecting on this tumultuous period, she remarked that the protests have had a considerable impact on her family and the broader Columbia community. She stated that her decision was aimed at allowing new leadership to guide the university through future challenges.
Having assumed the presidency last year, Shafik made history as Columbia’s first female president and was among several women appointed to lead Ivy League schools. Following her departure, she plans to return to the UK to spearhead a review of the government’s international development strategies within the foreign secretary’s office, an area she is passionate about.
Columbia University has named Katrina Armstrong as interim president. Armstrong currently serves as CEO of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center and has been actively involved in health and biomedical sciences at Columbia since 2022.