Columbia University announced on Friday that its interim president, Katrina A. Armstrong, is resigning, following the university’s recent negotiations with the Trump administration regarding federal funding. Armstrong took on the role after President Nemat “Minouche” Shafik’s resignation in August, amidst a turbulent spring semester marked by protests on campus related to the conflict in Gaza. The university stated that Armstrong will be returning to the Irving Medical Center.
Claire Shipman, the co-chair of the board of trustees, will now serve as the acting president while the university conducts a search for a permanent replacement. The decision was reported by The Wall Street Journal. David Greenwald, chair of the board of trustees, expressed gratitude for Armstrong’s dedication to Columbia during a challenging period. Armstrong, in her statement, mentioned her pride in working with the university and her passion for science and healing.
Recently, Columbia University agreed to meet certain demands from the Trump administration to initiate discussions aimed at reinstating $400 million in federal funding that had been withdrawn earlier. The administration had accused the university of not taking action against harassment of Jewish students. Armstrong clarified that the university responded to the administration to ensure academic activities continued uninterrupted.
Columbia University faced significant protests last spring over its ties to Israel amidst the conflict in Gaza. The students called for divestment from Israel and set up a pro-Palestinian camp on campus, leading to a group of students occupying Hamilton Hall. This prompted police involvement and disciplinary actions against the students.
Furthermore, Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student involved in the protests, was arrested by immigration authorities earlier this month over allegations of supporting Hamas. Khalil’s visa was revoked, and he is currently in federal custody in Louisiana pending a legal challenge to his arrest and potential deportation.
This month, a student filed a lawsuit against the school and the House Education and Workforce Committee to prevent Columbia from sharing the disciplinary records of students engaged in campus protests with the government. Following Khalil’s arrest, several other international college students have been detained by federal immigration authorities as part of the Trump administration’s intensified deportation efforts.
