Announcements

Two weeks ago, I wrote to all of you to affirm our mission and our values and lay out my priorities for the coming academic year. I said I would continue to share new developments on those priorities as often as I could.

I have spent the last few weeks getting to know many of you during orientation. 

I am grateful to the Task Force on Antisemitism, its co-chairs, and its members for their work on this report, particularly their focus on listening to and elevating the voices and experiences of our students.

Last Friday, I called on all of us to remember that our mission is to teach, create, and advance knowledge. 

It has been wonderful to connect and reconnect with so many of you on campus over the past week, as we celebrate the arrival of our new students and the return of our academic community. 

As the start of the new academic year approaches, I want to express how much I am looking forward to welcoming new and returning students, faculty, and staff to our campuses.

We are deeply honored to announce today a new $400 million gift from Roy and Diana Vagelos, which will secure Columbia’s leadership in biomedical science research and education and produce a vast array of compelling opportunities for improving society’s health and wellbeing. 

I am very pleased to share with you my appointment of Alexis Abramson as the next Dean of the Columbia Climate School. 

I write with sadness to tell you that I am stepping down as president of Columbia University effective August 14, 2024.

I am deeply honored to be called to serve as Interim President of our beloved institution. 

Columbia University mourns the loss of Nobel Laureate and University Professor Tsung-Dao Lee, a world-renowned physicist. 

I write to share that I have appointed Susan Glancy Secretary of the University.