Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway announced today that he will step down from his position at the end of the current academic year, Fox News reports.
Holloway, the first Black president of Rutgers, assumed office in the summer of 2020, navigating a tumultuous period marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Israel-Hamas conflict, and pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
In a statement posted on the university’s website, Holloway cited personal reasons for his decision.
“This decision is my own and reflects my own rumination about how best to be of service,” he explained.
He plans to take a yearlong sabbatical before returning to Rutgers as a full-time professor.
Holloway’s tenure was accompanied by significant challenges. He spearheaded the university’s transition to remote learning during the pandemic, later overseeing the return to in-person instruction with mandatory vaccination requirements. However, he also faced criticism for his handling of the recent Israel-Hamas conflict and the accompanying pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
Jewish students have expressed disappointment with the university’s response, alleging that Holloway and administrators “ran away” from what they perceive as blatant antisemitic behavior on campus.
Rutgers has not yet announced a successor for Holloway, leaving the university’s leadership in a state of uncertainty.
