Minouche Shafik has announced her resignation as president of Columbia University. Columbia’s Board of Trustees announced that Katrina Armstrong, the CEO of Columbia University Irving Medical Center has agreed to serve as interim president. Columbia’s Irving Medical Center works with New York-Presbyterian and has 62 doctors in White Plains. ColumbiaDoctors Medical Group, one of the largest multispecialty practices in the Westchester area, is part of Columbia University Irving Medical Center and ColumbiaDoctors.
Columbia University has four campuses: Morningside; Manhattanville; the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. It has 17 schools as well as four affiliate schools, with about 4,600 full-time faculty, 37,000 students, and 18,000 full-time staff.
“I have had the honor and privilege to lead this incredible institution, and I believe that—working together—we have made progress in a number of important areas. However, it has also been a period of turmoil where it has been difficult to overcome divergent views across our community,” Shafik wrote in a letter sent to the Columbia community. “This period has taken a considerable toll on my family, as it has for others in our community. Over the summer, I have been able to reflect and have decided that my moving on at this point would best enable Columbia to traverse the challenges ahead. I am making this announcement now so that new leadership can be in place before the new term begins.”
Shafik faced harsh criticism from students and pro-Palestinian protesters that occupied campus buildings and objected to the school’s failure to disclose its investment that may benefit Israel. She thanked the Board of Trustees for their support and said that she would work with the interim president to ensure an orderly transition.
In acknowledging Shafik’s significant accomplishments for the University, the Board of Trustees said it was “taking all necessary steps to ensure a smooth leadership transition,” and expressed gratitude that Dr. Armstrong had agreed to step in.
