University of Pennsylvania is currently under the leadership of interim President J. Larry Jameson, who is expected to continue in this role for the next two years or until a new president is selected.
Jameson took over as interim president in December 2023, following the resignation of Liz Magill, who faced criticism for her testimony about antisemitism before a congressional committee. Prior to serving as interim president, Jameson was the dean of Penn’s medical school.
The announcement of Jameson’s extended tenure was made by Penn’s Board of Trustees Director Ramanan Raghavendran in a statement to the university community. Raghavendran expressed his delight that Jameson agreed to stay on until the academic year 2025-26 or until a new president is appointed.
Raghavendran also mentioned that more details about the search for the new president would be shared soon, giving members of the Penn community the chance to participate in the process. However, a specific timeline for the selection was not provided.
Reflecting on the challenges faced during the past year, Raghavendran shared his experiences presiding over this year’s Commencement ceremony for the first time as Board Chair. He described it as a beautiful and celebratory event marking the end of a difficult period, which included the resignation of Scott Bok alongside Magill earlier in the year.
The challenges Raghavendran mentioned were related to the university’s response to pro-Palestinian protests on campus, which ultimately led to Magill’s resignation. Since Jameson assumed the role of interim president, pro-Palestinian demonstrators have been vocal on campus, urging the university to reveal and divest any financial ties to the conflict in Gaza.
These demonstrations have included interruptions at board meetings, a Gaza solidarity encampment on College Green, and a march to Jameson’s residence in University City following the dismantling of the encampment by law enforcement.
Recently, a joint message from Jameson and other university officials outlined temporary guidelines for campus protests, including a ban on encampments and other forms of disruptive demonstrations.