NYT
Columbia University Has a New President. Again. This One Plans to Stay.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Jennifer Mnookin became Columbia University's president, the fifth person to hold the position in four years. Mnookin previously served as dean of the UCLA School of Law. She has stated she approaches her work as "a principled pragmatist." Columbia experienced leadership transitions following campus protests in 2024 related to the Israel-Gaza conflict, during which former president Nemat Shafik resigned after approximately one year in the role.