University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin was chosen to be Columbia University’s next president, according to a Sunday New York Times article.
Mnookin first joined UW-Madison in 2022 after serving as dean of the University of California, Los Angeles Law School and will stay chancellor through spring commencement. Following Mnookin’s departure, UW System President Jay Rothman, along with other stakeholders, will appoint an interim chancellor while the Board of Regents searches for a permanent successor.
“As Chancellor Mnookin begins her next chapter, we thank her for her contributions and wish her every success. We look forward to ensuring that UW-Madison continues to thrive and to carry forward the tradition of excellence it is known for worldwide,” Rothman said in a statement.
She struck a delicate balance during a tumultuous time in higher education at UW-Madison amid large-scale pro-Palestine protests, a funding deal to freeze and eliminate DEI positions in exchange for state funding and federal funding cuts from the Trump Administration. She advocated for UW-Madison to Wisconsin's Republican Legislature, piloting initiatives focused on free speech and pluralism in response to criticisms that the university lacked ideological diversity. Mnookin also expanded the university’s federal lobbying efforts and focused federal funding grants on the Department of Defense grants and university research around Artificial Intelligence, allowing UW-Madison to rise in research expenditure rankings.
“It has been a true honor to be a part of the Wisconsin family," Mnookin said in a statement Sunday. "I am proud of what we have accomplished together, even in a challenging period for higher education, and I know great possibilities lie ahead for the UW–Madison campus community.”
As Columbia’s president, Mnookin is poised to enter a similarly uncertain environment, leading initiatives in growth and stability at a university whose handling of pro-Palestine student protests in 2023 and increasing hostility from the Trump Administration has thrust the campus into the national spotlight. Columbia’s campus has since encountered numerous, large-scale pro-Palestine demonstrations.
Mnookin will replace Nemat “Minouche” Shafik, Columbia’s last president who resigned in 2024 after intense national scrutiny surrounding the university’s approach to pro-Palestine protests.
A former Ivy League student herself, Mnookin holds a Bachelor’s degree from Harvard and a JD from Yale — as well as a doctorate from MIT.
“My time at UW–Madison has been life-changing and so much of that is attributable to the talented and deeply committed faculty, students and staff who call our institution home, and who strive to bring the Wisconsin Idea to life," Mnookin said. "I will continue to work hard each and every day prior to my departure and I look forward to partnering with President Rothman, the Board of Regents and others to ensure a smooth transition.”
This story was updated at 7:00 p.m.
This is a developing story
Zoey Elwood is the college news editor for The Daily Cardinal. She previously served as copy chief. As a staff writer, she's written in-depth on state and local budgets, protest coverage and Wisconsin politics. She has also written for state and city news. Follow her on X at @zoeyelwood.
Annika Bereny is the campus news editor for The Daily Cardinal. She previously served as the special pages editor. As a staff writer, she's written in-depth on campus news specializing in protest policy, free speech and historical analysis. She has also written for state and city news. She is a History and Journalism major. Follow her on Twitter at @annikabereny.
