Brown University president Christina Paxson to step down after Trump administration clashes

Brown University President Christina Paxson announced her resignation, effective at the end of the academic year, after navigating significant challenges with the Trump administration. Paxson extended her tenure to address a federal funding freeze that threatened the university's mission. The administration targeted Brown over alleged antisemitic student protests and diversity policies, threatening to cut $510 million in federal grants. Paxson secured a deal in July 2025 to restore funding, contingent on a third-party evaluation of campus climate, including for Jewish students.

• In October, Paxson rejected an administration offer to favor universities for federal funding if they capped international students, defined gender biologically, and banned race/sex in hiring/admissions, stating it would "restrict academic freedom and undermine the autonomy of Brown's governance."
• During her tenure, Paxson also guided the university through a campus shooting in December, which resulted in two student deaths and nine injuries, leading to federal scrutiny of Brown's emergency systems.