The Ivy League school's board of trustees on Sunday announced that Mnookin will replace acting school head Claire Shipman effective July 1. The search for a new president began last April, after Minouche Shafik, the prior head of the school, resigned amid controversy over anti-Israel protests and encampments.
"Jennifer will be an exceptional leader for Columbia’s future," said David J. Greenwald and Jeh C. Johnson, co-chairs of the Columbia University Board of Trustees. "She is a distinguished scholar who now leads a complex institution with clarity and vision. She understands the essential role that higher education and research play in advancing knowledge, serving the public good, and addressing our most pressing challenges."
"She is also a keen listener who builds consensus and does not shy away from making difficult decisions when necessary," Greenwald and Johnson continued. "As president, she will lead Columbia forward with strength and a firm commitment to the University's cherished values."
"I am honored and thrilled to join Columbia University at this important moment," Mnookin said upon her appointment. "Columbia is defined by rigorous scholarship, a deep commitment to open inquiry, world-class patient care, and an inseparable and enduring connection to New York City, the greatest city in the world."
She sent her first message to students on Monday.
"The last several years have been challenging ones for higher education, certainly including Columbia," Mnookin reportedly wrote in an email. "Having had the privilege for the past few years of leading a public flagship university in a complex time, I well understand the significant uncertainties and heightened scrutiny many universities are now facing."
Last July, Columbia reached a more than $200 million settlement with the Trump administration over discrimination against Jewish students on campus.
"I'm very pleased that we were able to bring those negotiations to a close and have an excellent working agreement now with Columbia. They knew they had an antisemitism problem," Education Secretary Linda McMahon said at the time.
Columbia did not immediately return a request for comment.