Dive Brief:
- Andrew Hamilton will leave a similar position at Oxford University to assume the presidency of New York University.
- The former Yale provost will inherit tensions with faculty, critics of the high cost of elite educations, and opponents of the university’s expansion plans in New York City and abroad, which were fostered by retiring President John Sexton, according to the New York Times.
- The Times reports Hamilton is seen as a promising replacement, coming to the table with solid leadership successes and strong academic scholarship.
Dive Insight:
Outgoing NYU President John Sexton received a “no confidence” vote from faculty at five of the university’s colleges in 2013 before announcing his retirement. He was alternately held up as a visionary and criticized for his expansion plans since becoming president of the university in 2001. Many at the university will want to see a marked change in leadership style once Sexton leaves, and Hamilton, based on his prior work, looks like he will provide that. Hamilton is set to leave Oxford in January.