The acting president of the University of Columbia, Katrina Armstrong, withdrew, says the university

Katrina Armstrong will move “immediately” as the acting president of Columbia University, school announced on Friday.

Armstrong was announced as the acting president of New York University in August 2024 after the president of the time, Minouche Shafik, announced his immediate resignation, after student demonstrations against the War of Israel-Hamas who swirl the campus.

“Dr. Armstrong has accepted the role of acting president at a time of great uncertainty for the university and worked tirelessly to promote the interests of our community,” said David J. Greenwald, chairman of the board of directors.

“Katrina has always given her heart and soul to Columbia. We appreciate her service and we are delighted with her continuous contributions to university,” said Greenwald on Friday.

The school said that Armstrong would return to lead the Irving Medical Center of the University and that the co -chair of the board of directors, Claire Shipman, was appointed interim president.

“I suppose this role with a clear understanding of the serious challenges which we are seized and a constant commitment to act with urgency, integrity and work with our faculty to advance our mission, implement the necessary reforms, protect our students and maintain academic freedom and an open investigation,” said Shipman in a press release.

The news comes a week after the university seemed to have given in to the requests of the Trump administration after a threat of retaining $ 400 million in federal funds.

The school published a four -page memo last week entitled “Bringing our work to fight against discrimination, harassment and anti -Semitism in Columbia”.

Columbia has agreed to prohibit masks, one of the main requests of the Trump administration, claiming that in the note: “Public security has determined that masks opposite or face covers are not allowed to hide its identity in the Commission on violations of university policies or state, municipal or federal laws.”

The University has also agreed to stricter controls in its Middle East Study department, which will now be supervised by a new main vice-pre-premise which “will carry out an in-depth examination of the program portfolio in the regional areas of the university, immediately from the Middle East”.

The Board of Directors of Columbia published a statement supporting the memo last weekend.

“We have and continue to support the approach of interim president Armstrong, including today’s presentation of the progress of the university and deeply thoughtful actions. We are grateful for its leaders of principle and courageous during this unprecedented period, and for the measures it has and takes to strengthen our institution,” said the board of directors.

Earlier this month, the former student graduate of Columbia University, Mahmoud Khalil, was arrested by immigration and customs application because of his involvement in last year’s demonstrations.

Khalil was detained in the hall of a building belonging to Columbia while he returned to his residence with his wife, according to the Habeas Corpus petition contesting his arrest laid by his lawyers.