Columbia seeks stability as antisemitism scandals topple presidents, federal penalties bite, and accountability reshapes Ivy leadership.
Columbia University is preparing to appoint Jennifer Mnookin, the current chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, as its next president, according to reports citing people familiar with the process.
Her appointment would conclude a prolonged and turbulent leadership search that has left Columbia cycling through four leaders since late 2023, amid mounting scrutiny over the university’s handling of antisemitism on campus.
Mnookin, a former dean of the UCLA School of Law, is expected to succeed acting president Claire Shipman, who stepped into the role following the resignation of Katrina Armstrong as interim president.
Armstrong resigned after widespread backlash to her testimony before a White House antisemitism task force, where she was unable to recall specific antisemitic incidents—despite such incidents being documented in Columbia’s own internal reports. Her departure followed the earlier resignation of former president Minouche Shafik, who faced sustained criticism over her response to escalating antisemitic activity on campus.
The leadership crisis intensified after the Trump administration froze $400 million in federal research funding, citing Columbia’s failure to adequately address antisemitism and concerns tied to ideological campus climates. The university later reached a settlement, agreeing to pay $221 million in penalties and to reduce its reliance on international student enrollment, which currently accounts for roughly 40% of its student body.
The presidential search was repeatedly delayed. High-profile candidates, including Harvard provost John Manning and Vanderbilt chancellor Daniel Diermeier, withdrew from consideration, leaving Columbia without permanent leadership deep into the academic year.
Mnookin brings a lengthy academic résumé, having spent 17 years on the UCLA faculty before becoming chancellor at UW-Madison in 2022. She has also taught at the University of Virginia School of Law and served as a visiting professor at Harvard Law School.
University observers say her appointment signals a push for institutional reset, stronger governance, and a firmer stance against antisemitism—an issue that has reshaped leadership across elite American universities.
