Brown University President Christina Paxson will step down at the end of the 2026–27 academic year, the university announced Monday, setting up a nationwide search for the campus’s 20th president. Paxson has led the Ivy League institution since 2012 and cited the timing as appropriate for a new leader to oversee Brown’s multi-year strategic planning process. Brown’s governing board said it will involve the campus community in the search and planning effort, while also reflecting on Paxson’s long tenure through major disruptions, including the COVID-19 period, federal funding interruptions, and campus protests. Student approval has fluctuated sharply in recent years, including a steep drop during the Israel-Hamas protests on campus. The move comes as average college presidencies continue to shorten, and it reinforces the governance pressure universities face as they navigate policy conflict, protests, and public trust challenges. Brown becomes the latest major research university to initiate a top-leadership transition ahead of a new strategic cycle.