CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Diya TV) — After a tumultuous month, Harvard President Claudine Gay has submitted her resignation, making it the briefest tenure in the university’s history.
Harvard announced Alan Garber, Provost and Chief Academic Officer, will serve as Interim President until a new leader takes office.
Gay’s departure comes only six months and two days into her presidency. The move follows a series of controversies, including allegations of plagiarism and concerns about her handling of antisemitism on campus after a problematic congressional testimony on December 5.
In a statement, Gay said “it has become clear that it is in the best interest of Harvard for me to resign so that our community can navigate this moment of extraordinary challenge with a focus on the institution rather than any individual.”
This announcement comes just three weeks after the university’s corporate leaders expressed unanimous support for Gay following extensive deliberations in the aftermath of the congressional hearing.
Her departure follows heightened pressure for her resignation, aligning with the recent step-down of University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill.
Harvard has lost of a reported $1 billion in donations and revelations of plagiarism in Gay’s Ph.D. thesis.
