Northwestern University has confirmed that its President, Michael Schill, will step down from his position after three years of leading the institution. Schill, who assumed office in 2022, said his decision followed consultations with the university’s Board of Trustees and comes at what he described as “the right time for new leadership to guide Northwestern into its next chapter.”
During his tenure, Schill oversaw record achievements in research funding and philanthropy, major reforms in student-athlete welfare, and the launch of groundbreaking initiatives such as the Litowitz Center for Enlightened Disagreement and the integration of AI across disciplines. He also led the push for the long-awaited construction of a new home for the social sciences and global affairs.
In his message, Schill acknowledged the challenges faced by Northwestern during his presidency but emphasized that the university is now “on a stronger footing,” citing historic highs in applications and national rankings. He added that after a sabbatical, he will return to the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law to teach and conduct research, which he described as his “first and enduring passion.”
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Schill expressed gratitude to faculty, students, alumni, and staff, saying it was his “profound honor” to serve the institution. An interim president will be appointed before he formally vacates his role.
This development marks a significant transition for one of America’s leading research universities, with attention now turning to who will succeed Schill and how Northwestern will sustain its momentum in academic and institutional growth.
Newspot Nigeria will continue to monitor developments as Northwestern University prepares for its next chapter of leadership.
FULL STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT MICHAEL SCHILL
September 4, 2025
Over the past three years, it has been my profound honor to serve as President of Northwestern University. In that time, our community has made significant progress while simultaneously facing extraordinary challenges. Together, we have made decisions that strengthened the institution and helped safeguard its future.
In so many ways, Northwestern is on a stronger footing. We have advanced superb teaching and research, reinforced our commitment to academic integrity and free expression, secured record levels of research funding and philanthropy, enacted extensive reforms to protect student-athlete welfare, and launched groundbreaking initiatives — most notably our work to integrate AI across disciplines, the long-awaited construction of a new home for the social sciences and global affairs, and the creation of the Litowitz Center for Enlightened Disagreement. Applications to the University and our national rankings have reached historic highs, and our faculty’s research continues to advance health, knowledge, artistic, and societal progress.
These achievements reflect the collective brilliance and devotion of many. At the same time, from the very beginning of my tenure, Northwestern faced serious and often painful challenges. In the face of those challenges and the hard, but necessary choices that were before us, I was always guided by enduring values of our University: protecting students, fostering academic excellence, and defending faculty, academic freedom, due process and the integrity of the institution.
I also recognize that difficult problems remain, particularly at the federal level. It is critical that we continue to protect the University’s research mission and excellence while preserving academic freedom, integrity, and independence.
As I reflect on the progress we have made and what lies ahead, I believe now is the right time for new leadership to guide Northwestern into its next chapter. Therefore, I have decided, in consultation with the leadership of the Board of Trustees, that I will step down as President. I will remain in my role until an interim president is in place, and I will assist in his or her transition. After a sabbatical, I will return to Northwestern Pritzker School of Law to teach and conduct research, my first and enduring passion. To me, the highest honor a person could have is being a member of our faculty and I look forward to nurturing our students and continuing to champion higher education, a cornerstone of American society that, despite its imperfections, is more important than ever to our nation’s future.
It has been my privilege to work alongside extraordinary colleagues and to witness firsthand the resilience, generosity, and strength of the Northwestern community. I would like to thank my extraordinary administrative team who work tirelessly to further the interests of the University, our deans and academic leadership who promote the highest ideals of academic excellence, the faculty and staff who make Northwestern one of the greatest academic institutions in the world, and the many Board members and alumni and donors who care so much about our University. And, lastly, I appreciate our students, who I am confident will go on to change the world for the better.
