Columbia University’s interim president, Katrina A. Armstrong, is stepping down and will return to leading the school’s Irving Medical Center.
The university told Newsweek it had nothing additional to share in addition to the announcement and Armstrong’s statement.
Why It Matters
Columbia was the epicenter of campus protests last year against Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip. Students across the country demanded universities and the federal government sever ties with the Israeli government to protest its military actions in Gaza.
President Donald Trump and his administration also ripped Columbia in the wake of the demonstrations, accusing the Ivy League university of allowing antisemitism on campus grounds. The Trump administration also initially withheld $400 million in federal funds and said it would not reinstate the funding if the school did not make changes to its policies.
Columbia caved to Trump’s demands last week and announced new actions it is taking.
What To Know
The university announced on Friday that Board of Trustees Co-Chair Claire Shipman is now acting president.
Armstrong announced new action points last week, including banning masks that conceal identities and hiring 36 campus officers “who will have the ability to remove individuals from campus and/or arrest them when appropriate.”
The school also announced it will appoint a new senior vice provost to review “programs in regional areas across the University, starting immediately with the Middle East.”
Columbia’s announcements come as it draws sharp scrutiny over the detention of graduate student, legal resident and pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil. Khalil is currently in a legal battle with the Trump administration as the government tries to deport him.
What People Are Saying
Board of Trustees Chair David J. Greenwald said in the announcement on Friday: “Dr. Armstrong accepted the role of interim president at a time of great uncertainty for the University and worked tirelessly to promote the interests of our community,” Greenwald said. “Katrina has always given her heart and soul to Columbia. We appreciate her service and look forward to her continued contributions to the University,” he added.
Shipman said in the school’s announcement: “I assume this role with a clear understanding of the serious challenges before us and a steadfast commitment to act with urgency, integrity, and work with our faculty to advance our mission, implement needed reforms, protect our students, and uphold academic freedom and open inquiry. Columbia’s new permanent president, when that individual is selected, will conduct an appropriate review of the University’s leadership team and structure to ensure we are best positioned for the future.”
Armstrong said in a statement Friday night that she had planned to go back to running the medical center, saying in part: “As I planned when I took on this interim position, and with the support of the Board of Trustees, I am returning to my role as Chief Executive Officer of Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center, Executive Vice President for Health and Biomedical Sciences, and Dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Medicine and the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons,” the statement read. “The Board has now appointed Co-Chair Claire Shipman as the Acting President, effective immediately.”
Armstong added: “It has been a singular honor to lead Columbia University in this important and challenging time. This is one of the world’s great universities, in its most vital city, and I am proud to have worked with extraordinary faculty, students, and alumni. But my heart is with science, and my passion is with healing. That is where I can best serve this University and our community moving forward.”
What Happens Next
The Board of Trustees is continuing to look for a university president.
Update 3/28/25 9:49 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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