EVANSTON, Ill. (WLS) — Northwestern President Michael Schill announced his resignation Thursday.
Schill communicated to students through a letter, asserting his pride in the school’s progress over the past three years while acknowledging that challenges persist.
He expressed awareness of ongoing issues, particularly at the federal level, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the University’s research mission and excellence, along with academic freedom, integrity, and independence. Schill stated, “As I consider what we have accomplished and what remains to be done, I feel it’s the right moment for new leadership to steer Northwestern towards its future.”
Schill will remain in his role until an interim president is named.
He will later return to the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law to teach and conduct research.
“It has been an honor to collaborate with remarkable colleagues and observe the resilience, kindness, and strength of the Northwestern community,” he remarked. From the start of his leadership, he noted the university had faced significant and often tough challenges. Throughout these trials and the tough strategic decisions they necessitated, Schill adhered to the university’s timeless principles: student protection, academic excellence, and the defense of faculty, academic freedom, due process, and the university’s integrity.
Recently, Schill was invited to speak with the House Education and Workforce Committee concerning reports of antisemitism on the Evanston campus.
Over a year ago, Schill faced intense questioning in Congress regarding his management of a pro-Palestinian protest camp on the NU campus during the spring of 2024.
The Trump administration has put a hold on nearly $800 million of Northwestern’s federal funding as it looks into these allegations.
NU is one of several elite schools being pressed by the administration over similar claims.
“I’m worried about what comes next because they pressure a president out. What else can they do to the university?” said Josh Fleckner, who participated in the encampment.
Fleckner is an alumnus, who helped organize the encampment, which aimed to draw attention to Palestinians dying in the Israel-Hamas war.
“All to stifle, in my view, the free speech of myself and friends who just wanted our money out of weapons that were killing Palestinians,” he said.
Schill defended a deal he made with protest organizers to end the days-long encampment, and was questioned about the university’s handling of antisemitism complaints.
Last year, Northwestern instituted a number of changes aimed at protecting the safety of Jewish students.
“As the Board of Trustees begins its search for a new president, it’s our hope and expectation that the university continues the important work of addressing antisemitism on campus,” said Rebecca Weininger, Midwest senior regional director for the Anti-Defamation League. “Instead of taking those concerns and fears seriously, the administration reached an agreement with the people that were inhabiting the encampment instead of enforcing its own policies.”
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