ITHACA, N.Y. — Cornell University President Martha Pollack is set to retire on June 30.
Pollack made the announcement in an email Thursday, calling her time as president of Cornell “an amazing privilege.” She had been president of the Ivy League school since 2017 after working as provost at the University of Michigan.
“After seven fruitful and gratifying years as Cornell’s president – capping a career in research and academia spanning five decades – I’m ready for a new chapter in my life,” Pollack said.
Cornell Provost Michael Kotlikoff will take over the interim president’s role on July 1, 2024. He will have a two-year term, according to a subsequent announcement from the school’s Board of Trustees President Kraig Kayser. The school will not start a search for a new permanent president until late 2025 or early 2026, as Kotlikoff’s interim stint will be winding down.
“Mike will do an exceptional job leading the university during this important transition,” Kayser wrote in his letter.
Kayser also thanked Pollack for her time with the school.
“On a personal level, all my fellow trustees and I have enjoyed working with President Pollack and have valued her intelligence, integrity, candor, and warmth,” Kayser said. He also announced that the Board of Trustees appointed Pollack to a president emerita role, which will begin the day after her retirement.
Pollack’s letter said she began to deliberate when to retire last fall. Pollack said her retirement announcement was delayed three times due to events on Cornell campuses.
Continuing to delay her retirement is “not in the university’s best interest,” Pollack said. She said “there will be lots of speculation about my decision” but stressed that “this decision is mine and mine alone.”
The announcement comes amid widespread unrest across U.S. institutions of higher education have turned ideological battlegrounds over Israel’s use of military response in the West Bank following Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel.
Cornell University has been no exception to the turmoil.
Congressional representatives have weighed in on protests on Cornell’s campus, alleging pro-Palestinain activities promoted antisemitism; a Cornell student posted violent threats against Jewish people; Cornell students established an encampment on the university’s Arts Quad on April 25 to demand that Cornell divest from its holdings in Israel as they echo widespread concern that Israel is committing “genocide” against the Palestinian people in the West Bank.
In some high-profile campus demonstrations, such as at Columbia University where protestors occupied a building on campus, protests have been met with police responses that have resulted in the arrests of students and the forceful dismantlement of encampments set up by protestors.
The demonstrations have tested Pollack’s theme of “freedom of expression” for the 2023-2024 academic year. Cornell adopted a controversial “Interim Expressive Activity Policy” aimed at enhancing regulations around expressive activity amid heightened campus protests.
Pollack said, “There is so much more to Cornell than the current turmoil taking place at universities across the country right now, and I hope we do not lose sight of that.”
If you appreciate our coverage, please consider becoming a monthly donor to show your commitment to reliable local journalism.