Dr. Katrina Armstrong has resigned as the interim president of Columbia University, the institution confirmed on Friday. Her departure comes just a week after the university agreed to implement policy changes under pressure from the Trump administration.
Armstrong took on the interim role in August, following her predecessor’s departure amid criticism of Columbia’s handling of pro-Palestinian protests on campus. The university had become a focal point for national attention after demonstrations against Israel’s military actions in Gaza last year.
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The Trump administration had accused Columbia and other universities of failing to protect Jewish students and of allowing antisemitism to flourish. It threatened to cut $400 million in federal funding unless the university addressed these issues.
Columbia agreed to several changes, including a ban on face coverings during protests and revised oversight of academic programs. Despite these concessions, it remains uncertain whether the federal funding will be reinstated. Armstrong will return to her former role leading the university’s medical center, and Claire Shipman, co-chair of the Board of Trustees, has been named acting president.
