President Michael Schill announces the resignation

Michael Schill announced today that he would withdraw from the presidency of the University of the North West, concluding a three-year mandate which experienced a continuous ascent on the three university campuses, a fundraising record and a constant increase in the national classification of the best universities in the country.

“In the past three years, I have been my deep honor to serve as president of the Northwestern University,” said Schill in a message to the community a short time ago. “Meanwhile, our community has made significant progress while facing extraordinary challenges. Together, we have made decisions that have strengthened the institution and helped protect its future. ”

He also recognized a myriad of challenges, including a freeze on funding for ongoing federal research and other problems.

“While I think about the progress we have made and what awaits us, I think it’s a good time for the new leadership to guide Northwestern in his next chapter,” said Schill in his message. “Consequently, I decided, in consultation with the management of the board of directors, which I will move as president.”

The board of directors will soon appoint an acting president. Schill will continue in his role until the interim president begins and works until then to ensure a smooth transition. He will also continue to work with the board of directors on efforts to restore the free federal funding of the university. After having resigned, Schill will take sabbatical leave from the university, then return to teach and conduct research as a faculty member at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.

The chairman of the board of directors, Peter Barris, congratulated Schill for his leadership and his dedication to the northwest through turbulent times.

“The board of directors is extremely grateful to President Schill for his management during a period of unrivaled challenges in the northwest and in higher education,” said Barris. “Despite many winds, President Schill and his administration have diligently worked to defend Northwestern’s mission and have completed sustainable achievements that contribute solidly to the continuous advancement of Northwestern among the major universities in the United States and around the world.”

Schill was appointed 17th president of Northwestern in August 2022 and took over the September post.

Under the direction of Schill, Northwestern climbed to No. 6 in the US News & World national ranking, the highest classification in the history of the university. He also supervised the two and third higher years of fundraising never recorded during the years 2024 and 2025. During his mandate, the university raised nearly $ 2.5 billion overall.

Among his other achievements, President Schill:

• Efforts to ensure the continuation of funding for critical research during a federal funding freezing;
• Helped to establish university and research centers, positioning the university as a leader in science, in particular the family research fund of Pat & Shirley Ryan, the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago, the Querrey Simpson Institute for Regenerative Engineering, the National Institute for Theory and Mathematics in Biology, Collaborative Intelligence, and the NSF-Simons AI Institute for Sky for Sky for Sky;
• Promoted the free expression and commitment through the difference, in particular the launch of the Litowitz Center for Arighted Dishement and the creation of the President’s Advisory Committee on free expression and institutional discourse, which submitted a declaration on freedom of expression and institutional discourse;
• Supervision of major fixed assets, including the Social Center for Global Sciences and Affairs, the restoration of the Demering library, the new Ryan Field, the Sara and Kip Kirkpatrick Softball Stadium, the Cohen Lawn Project, and the revolutionary for a new building to unite the Kellogg School of Management of the Kellogg Schol Management.

“These achievements reflect the collective brilliance and the dedication of many,” said President Schill in his message to the community.

“I am eternally grateful to President Schill for his service in Northwestern,” said Professor Eli Finkel, who sat the President’s advisory committee on free expression and institutional discourse, and co-directs the Litowitz center for informed disagreement.

“President Schill has demonstrated exceptional grace in exceptional times, and he was a faithful defender of the most fundamental academic virtues: an open investigation, a passionate commitment and a fierce commitment to belief that intellectually diverse communities become much more than the sum of their parts.”

“The support and leadership of President Schill were essential for the scientific initiatives of Northwestern, such as the giant partnership of the Magellan telescope and the prioritization of data science and the research and education of AI for the university,” said Vicky Kalogera, professor of physics and astronomy and a key scientific leader in the giant Télescope Magellan.

“These efforts help unlock the university’s ability to make revolutionary progress in science and engineering, now and for the coming years,” said Kalograra, who is also director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics, and the new Skai Institute, the NSF-Simons National IA Institute for the Sky.

Schill also guided the university through a hazing scandal that started before his mandate but turned out to be shortly after his arrival on the campus. In response, the university has instituted new rules and practices to protect students-athletes.

He also dealt with campuses after October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks Israel and Israel’s response. In the months which followed the attack, the university updated its policies to limit anti -Semitism on its campuses, resulting in a spectacular decrease in the number of reported incidents.

“I was my privilege to work alongside extraordinary colleagues and to see the resilience, generosity and the strength of the northwest community, said, said Schill. “I would like to thank my extraordinary administrative team who works tirelessly to advance the interests of the university, our deans and our academic leaders who promote the greatest university ideals in the world, and the many members of the board of directors, the former and the donors who care about our university. better.”