Columbia University selected Jennifer Mnookin, chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Madison since 2022, as its next president, the university announced. Mnookin will hold both roles through spring commencement at Wisconsin before transitioning to Columbia, which has seen rapid leadership turnover amid protests and federal funding disruptions. Columbia’s board cited Mnookin’s experience navigating polarized politics in Wisconsin and dealing with federal scrutiny. At UW–Madison she expanded research spending to nearly $1.93 billion and launched targeted financial-aid guarantees for Pell recipients and Native American undergraduates; critics note she also shuttered her campus’s DEI office under political pressure. The appointment matters for research and governance: Columbia needs a leader who can stabilize fundraising, manage federal relations after grant terminations, and respond to campus climate tensions. Mnookin’s tenure will be watched by university presidents and trustees assessing how flagships balance political pressure, research continuity and student support.