Jennifer L. Mnookin has been appointed president of Columbia University, effective July 1, 2026. She currently serves as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she leads an institution of more than 50,000 students across 13 schools and colleges, with over 25,000 faculty and staff. Mnookin’s tenure at Wisconsin has included major investments in faculty hiring and research infrastructure, new cross-campus initiatives and efforts to expand access and affordability. A nationally recognized legal scholar, her work focuses on law and science, including forensic evidence and wrongful convictions. Mnookin previously was dean of the UCLA School of Law and has held faculty positions at the University of Virginia and as a visiting professor at Harvard Law School. She holds degrees from Harvard University, Yale Law School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Jennifer L. Mnookin Named President of Columbia University
