Claire Shipman, CC ‘86, SIPA ‘94, was appointed Acting President of Columbia University in March 2025. She is a distinguished journalist, best-selling author, and a leading voice for the advancement of women’s leadership. Shipman earned a Bachelor of Arts in Russian Studies from Columbia College and a Master of International Affairs from the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). She has long been dedicated to the interests of the Columbia community and to advancing academic and leadership initiatives. Shipman has served on Columbia’s Board of Trustees since 2013, and was elected Co-Chair in 2023. She has been honored with the University's John Jay Award for professional achievement and the Hamilton Award.
Shipman has also co-written four New York Times bestsellers with the BBC’s Katty Kay, including The Confidence Code and The Power Code. Her work on the economic argument for women in leadership and the confidence gap young girls and women often face has driven change in workplaces and schools across the nation.
Before turning to writing, Shipman built a career as a leading international and political journalist. She reported for CNN, NBC, and ABC, covering some of the world’s most transformative events, including the collapse of the Soviet Union. Shipman spent 15 years as a senior correspondent and substitute anchor for ABC’s Good Morning America, contributing to shows like This Week and World News Tonight. She also served as a White House correspondent for NBC News, covering presidential policy for Nightly News and Today. 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.