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Acting President Claire Shipman

Claire Shipman, CC ‘86, SIPA ‘94, was appointed Acting President of Columbia University in March 2025. A longtime leader within the Columbia community, Shipman has served on Columbia’s Board of Trustees since 2013 and was elected Co-Chair in 2023. She is an award-winning journalist and an author and leading voice for the advancement of women’s leadership.

Shipman built an award-winning journalism career with CNN, NBC, and ABC, where she covered major global events, including the collapse of the Soviet Union. She received a DuPont and an Emmy Award for her coverage of the 1989 Tiananmen Square student uprising, a second DuPont Award for reporting on the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, and a Peabody Award as part of CNN’s team covering the failed 1993 Soviet coup.

Shipman holds two Columbia degrees: a Master of International Affairs from the School of International and Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in Russian Studies. Learn more about Acting President Claire Shipman.

News

Claire Shipman
Celebrating Our Graduates and Our Shared Purpose

May 16, 2025

As we prepare to celebrate Class Days and Commencement, I invite you to watch a short video message reflecting on this important time.

Aerial of Columbia's campus.
Supporting and Strengthening Columbia’s Research Enterprise

May 9, 2025

Today, I want to share how we are protecting Columbia’s research mission, both by addressing the immediate crisis and by planning for a more resilient, more strategic future.

Alma Mater statue in front of Butler Library.
Butler Is Now Open!

May 8, 2025

Butler will, as is usual, remain open overnight this evening, and we will have normal operations across all other libraries today.

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