Columbia University tapped University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin to be the next president of the Ivy League Big Apple school, officials announced Sunday night.
The university, which has faced anti-Israel protests and allegations of not doing enough to fight antisemitism, said Mnookin was selected after an “extensive national search” that was conducted by members of the university’s board of trustees and faculty.
The board co-chairs praised Mnookin as a leader who “does now shy away from making difficult decisions.”
“Jennifer will be an exceptional leader for Columbia’s future,” David J. Greenwald and Jeh C. Johnson said in a statement.
“She is a distinguished scholar who now leads a complex institution with clarity and vision. She understands the essential role that higher education and research play in advancing knowledge, serving the public good, and addressing our most pressing challenges.
“She is also a keen listener who builds consensus and does not shy away from making difficult decisions when necessary.”
Mnookin, 58, will start the new position on July 1, replacing acting president Claire Shipman, who took over the position in March 2025.
The school has been under considerable scrutiny over its handling of anti-Israel protests that included demonstrators storming a campus building and setting up a sprawling encampment on the school’s green space.
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