NU names President Emeritus Henry S. Bienen interim president after Michael Schill resignation

EVANSTON, Ill. (WLS) -- Northwestern University named an interim president, after President Michael Schill announced his resignation last week.

President Emeritus Henry S. Bienen will serve as interim president of the university, effective Sept. 16, the school said Tuesday.

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"We believe Henry is uniquely suited to follow President Michael Schill's tenure and continue to support the University," said Peter Barris, chair of Northwestern's Board of Trustees, in a message to the community. "With more than three decades of service to our community, Henry has a deep knowledge of Northwestern and shares our love and passion for the institution."

Northwestern's 15th president, Bienen served the University from January 1995 to August 2009, the university said in a news release.

"I am honored to be asked to serve Northwestern again, and I look forward to helping the University I love so dearly navigate what is a critical and difficult time for research universities," Bienen said. "I care a great deal about the Northwestern community, which has been a major part of my life for more than 30 years. Our institution is resilient and embodies the very best of higher education and its endless promise to transform lives. As we start a new academic year, I am excited to build on the momentum created by Northwestern's incredible faculty, students, staff and alumni."

The Board of Trustees will share more information about steps to select Northwestern's next president when it is available, the release said.

Schill announced his resignation last Thursday, and said he would remain in his role until an interim president was named.

He will later return to the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law to teach and conduct research.

Schill was recently asked to interview with the House Education and Workforce Committee about allegations of antisemitism on the school's Evanston campus.

Schill was also grilled on Capitol hill over a year ago at a congressional committee hearing about his handling of a pro-Palestinian encampment on the NU campus in the spring of 2024.

President Donald Trump's administration has already frozen nearly $800 million in Northwestern's federal funding while it investigates the allegations.

NU is one of several elite schools being pressed by the administration over similar claims.

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