Columbia University President Minouche Shafik has announced her resignation, effective immediately, in a message to the university community. Her decision comes after a tumultuous year marked by student protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict and the removal of three deans who exchanged disparaging texts about Jewish life and antisemitism. Shafik acknowledged that the protests played a role in her decision and that the period had taken a toll on her family.
Shafik, who was appointed as the first female president of Columbia University last year, will return to the United Kingdom to lead an effort reviewing the government’s approach to international development. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work on fighting global poverty and promoting sustainable development, indicating that these are areas of lifelong interest for her.
During her tenure at Columbia, Shafik faced criticism from Republicans in Congress for not doing enough to combat concerns about antisemitism on campus. Despite this, she was recognized as a leader who understood the importance of higher education institutions in solving complex global issues.
Shafik’s resignation marks the end of a challenging period for Columbia University, but also opens a new chapter as the institution looks ahead to navigating the challenges of the future under new leadership.
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