Princeton’s Board of Trustees voted to extend President Christopher Eisgruber’s tenure for at least five more years.
A press release issued by the university highlighted Eisgruber’s accomplishments — which include enhancing research opportunities, increasing the diversity of the student body diversity, and expanding the campus.
“As the university and world emerge from a period of unprecedented challenges, the board felt it was so important to give us all the reassurance and strength of Chris Eisgruber’s continued leadership for a minimum five more years,” Louise Sams, chair of the Princeton board of trustees, said in the press release.
The announcement comes at a time of widespread turnover among administration for high-profile universities — several other presidents are also stepping down from their positions.
Last week, presidents of Columbia University, Howard University, and New York University all announced that they were leaving their positions. Earlier this year, leaders of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Dartmouth College also announced plans to step down.
Forbes reported that potential causes of this recent trend include an increase in the average age of university presidents, stress and strain related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and frequent public controversies.
In February, former Penn president Amy Gutmann resigned from her term as the longest Penn president to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Germany. Gutmann held her position for 18 years.
Former Provost Wendell Pritchett is currently serving as interim president until M. Elizabeth Magill officially becomes Penn's ninth president on July 1.
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