Northwestern President Michael Schill Resigns

EVANSTON, IL — Northwestern University president Michael Schill announced his resignation Thursday, following months of financial struggle and litigation against the university.

"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," Schill said in a statement.

Schill's difficult tenure included attacks from Republicans in Congress and a target from the Trump administration. This year, Trump officials froze around $790 million in federal research grants for the university, which led to more than 400 job cuts.

Schill also faced backlash for the university's response to campus protests in 2023 over the war in Gaza. During a congressional meeting last year, Republicans accused Northwestern of not doing enough to address antisemitism during the protests.

Also in 2023, former Wildcats football players began filing lawsuits, alleging sexual abuse and racial discrimination on the team. In response to the allegations, the university first suspended, and then fired, then coach Pat Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald responded by slapping the university with a $130 million wrongful termination lawsuit.

"From the very beginning of my tenure, Northwestern faced serious and often painful challenges," Schill said. "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."

Schill began his role as Northwestern University's president in 2022, coming over from the University of Oregon. Schill also previously worked as a professor and dean of the university of Chicago law school.

While Northwestern searches for an interim president to replace Schill, he will remain in the role of president. After a sabbatical, Schill will return as a professor at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law to teach and conduct research.