Schools
Ronald Liebowitz’s resignation, effective Nov. 1, follows a period of turbulence for the Waltham-based university.
Brandeis University President Ronald Liebowitz announced his resignation Wednesday, just days after the college’s faculty passed a vote of no confidence in his leadership.
In an email to the campus community, Liebowitz said he made the decision to step down “with mixed emotions.” While he didn’t specify a reason for his departure, Liebowitz explained that he and his wife, Jessica, hope to “build on our experiences to create new pathways for innovation and reform in higher education.”
He added: “I resign knowing that the university will be in good hands.”
Liebowitz joined Brandeis as its ninth president in July 2016, having previously held the same role at Middlebury College. His resignation — effective Nov. 1 — comes at the heels of the faculty vote of no confidence, which passed by a slim margin of 159 votes in favor, 149 against, and 26 abstentions.
Scrutiny of Liebowitz’s leadership came at a turbulent point for the Waltham-based university, which saw a spike in campus protests following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas War and more recently faced job cuts and budget woes.
Brandeis’s Board of Trustees has accepted Liebowitz’s resignation and appointed him president emeritus, according to a university news release. Liebowitz has vowed to “continue to advocate on behalf of Brandeis’s unique mission and ever-relevant founding values” in his new role.
“The entire Board of Trustees thanks President Liebowitz for his commitment, dedication, and significant accomplishments during this tenure,” the board’s chair, Lisa Kranc, said in a statement. “Ron has faithfully championed Brandeis’ core and founding principles. While many have chosen to stay silent, Ron has had the moral courage to be a leading voice in recognizing that we cannot cower from any form of hatred, especially antisemitism.”
Brandeis was one of two U.S. colleges last spring to receive an “A” grade in the Anti-Defamation League’s “Campus Antisemitism Report Card.” Founded by members of the American Jewish community, the nonsectarian university is “ahead of the pack” in responding to and establishing policies around campus antisemitism, according to the ADL. Brandeis even extended its transfer deadline last spring, citing “the current climate on many campuses around the world.”
Liebowitz also led Brandeis through the COVID-19 pandemic and the university’s 75th anniversary, re-energized fundraising efforts, and spearheaded a campus-wide planning initiative that produced a comprehensive set of recommendations for the future, according to Wednesday’s news release.
“The university’s accomplishments are numerous and remarkable for such a relatively young university, and there is no reason to believe it will not find the right path in the coming years,” Liebowitz said in his email.
Brandeis is turning to Arthur Levine, a leader in higher education and 1970 alumnus, to take the reins. He will serve as interim president beginning Nov. 1, having previously held leadership roles at the Teachers College at Columbia University and the former Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, according to the news release.
“I owe a great deal to Brandeis — my career, my family, and my closest friendships,” Levine said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the university community to embrace the opportunities offered by the emerging global, digital, knowledge era.”
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