Columbia University’s Board of Trustees has appointed Jennifer L. Mnookin, a legal scholar and the current chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, as the University’s next president, with her term set to begin July 1, 2026.
The selection follows a national search led by a committee of trustees and faculty that gathered input from across the Columbia community, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other stakeholders. Mnookin will take over at a time when research universities face heightened scrutiny and financial uncertainty, as well as growing expectations around access, affordability, and public impact.
At UW–Madison, Mnookin leads a flagship public research campus of more than 50,000 students across 13 schools and colleges, supported by more than 25,000 faculty and staff, including a medical school and an affiliated health system. Columbia said her tenure has featured investments in faculty hiring and research infrastructure, the launch of cross-campus initiatives focused on artificial intelligence and interdisciplinary research, and sustained leadership amid an uncertain federal funding environment. The university also credited her with efforts to expand access and improve affordability for students.
Columbia leaders emphasized Mnookin’s ability to build consensus while making difficult decisions, describing her as well-positioned to guide a complex institution and advance research and public service. Acting President Claire Shipman said Mnookin combines an inclusive, mission-driven leadership style with an ability to translate vision into execution while earning trust across diverse communities.
Before joining UW–Madison, Mnookin served for seven years as dean of the UCLA School of Law, following nearly two decades on the law faculties of UCLA and the University of Virginia, in roles that included senior academic leadership responsibilities. Columbia said that as dean, she strengthened the school’s academic profile, expanded interdisciplinary centers, led major fundraising efforts, and earned recognition for a commitment to teaching excellence.
Mnookin, 58, is known academically for work in legal evidence, with scholarship focusing on evidence, science, and the law, including wrongful convictions, forensic evidence, and visual evidence. Columbia noted she is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has emphasized the importance of rigorous research informing public decision-making.
Mnookin holds an AB from Harvard University, a JD from Yale Law School, and a PhD in history and social study of science and technology from MIT. She and her husband, political scientist Joshua Foa Dienstag, have two children. Columbia also expressed gratitude to Shipman for leading the University through a transition period ahead of Mnookin’s arrival.
KEY QUOTES:
“Jennifer will be an exceptional leader for Columbia’s future. She is a distinguished scholar who now leads a complex institution with clarity and vision. She understands the essential role that higher education and research play in advancing knowledge, serving the public good, and addressing our most pressing challenges. She is also a keen listener who builds consensus and does not shy away from making difficult decisions when necessary. As president, she will lead Columbia forward with strength and a firm commitment to the University’s cherished values.”
“We express the University’s deep gratitude to Acting President Claire Shipman for her steady leadership during a period of transition and for her unyielding service to Columbia. She led the University through an exceedingly difficult time with grace and fortitude; her stable leadership has positioned us well for this next chapter. We look ahead with confidence and excitement as Jennifer assumes the presidency.”
David J. Greenwald and Jeh C. Johnson, Co-Chairs, Columbia University Board of Trustees
“I am honored and thrilled to join Columbia University at this important moment. I am honored and thrilled to join Columbia University at this important moment. Columbia is defined by rigorous scholarship, a deep commitment to open inquiry, world-class patient care, and an inseparable and enduring connection to New York City, the greatest city in the world. I look forward to working closely with faculty, students, and staff, and with both our local and global community of alumni and friends, to advance the University’s critically important mission and to ensure that its teaching and research continue to contribute meaningfully to society.”
Jennifer L. Mnookin, President-Designate of Columbia University
“Jennifer is an outstanding leader whose scholarship and leadership set her apart. She brings an inclusive and mission-driven approach to leadership and has demonstrated an ability to move from vision to execution while earning trust across diverse communities. These are qualities that position her well to guide Columbia in the many years ahead. I’m thrilled for our institution.”
Claire Shipman, Acting President of Columbia University
“From the outset of this process, we sought a leader with both intellectual depth and demonstrated leadership. Jennifer’s record as a scholar and university leader reflects a deep understanding of how research universities function—how they must continuously evolve in an everchanging world to enable the pursuit of new knowledge while remaining true to their academic mission and institutional values.”
Andrew Barth and Jonathan Lavine, Co-Chairs, Presidential Search Committee
