Bard College named Jonathan Becker, executive vice president and vice president for academic affairs, as acting president effective July 1. The Board of Trustees said Becker will chair a newly formed leadership council and support a deliberate, inclusive search for permanent leadership. The appointment follows disruption tied to external reporting on Jeffrey Epstein and the relationship between Bard president Leon Botstein and Epstein disclosed in Department of Justice files. Bard said an external law firm’s two-month investigation found Botstein “minimized” and was “not fully accurate” about his relationship with Epstein, and Botstein announced he would resign June 30. Becker’s role is also positioned to maintain continuity for Bard’s academic and international initiatives, including leadership connected to civic engagement and sanctuary programming. The Board chair said Becker is the right person “for this moment,” highlighting the governance focus on stabilizing operations before the permanent hire. For colleges under governance stress, Bard’s approach shows how trustees may build a transition structure (leadership council plus acting president) while managing legal, reputational, and operational risk.