PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND — Brown University President Christina Paxson announced she will step down at the end of the academic year. Paxson stated in an open letter that she had planned to leave her position one year earlier but extended her tenure to navigate a federal funding freeze.

Paxson extended her tenure to "navigate a federal funding freeze that imperiled our mission." The Trump administration threatened to block $510 million in federal grants for Brown University. Brown University reached an agreement with the federal government in July 2025 to restore the blocked funding.

The official record states that Brown University reached an agreement with the Trump administration to restore its federal research funding and resolve three open investigations, without requiring Brown to admit wrongdoing or make payments to the federal government. The July 2025 agreement required Brown University to conduct a third-party evaluation of its campus climate, including for Jewish students, and propose actions to improve it. The July 2025 settlement included a $50 million commitment from Brown University to workforce development programs in Rhode Island. The July 2025 agreement with the federal government required Brown University to adopt policies toward transgender athletes and merit-based admissions.

In October 2025, Paxson declined an administration offer sent to nine elite universities that would have favored schools for federal funding if they capped international student numbers, defined gender based on biology, and banned the use of race or sex in hiring and admissions. Paxson stated that accepting the October 2025 administration offer would "restrict academic freedom and undermine the autonomy of Brown's governance."

A former student opened fire on the Brown University campus in December 2025, killing two students and wounding nine others. The shooter from the December 2025 Brown University incident killed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Brian T. Moynihan, Brown University chancellor and Bank of America CEO, stated that Paxson led the university with a "balance of commitment to academic excellence, operational excellence and a collaborative philosophy." Moynihan indicated there would be a national search for the next Brown University president.

The Corporation of Brown University has scheduled a national search for its 20th president to succeed President Paxson, with the search being launched as part of the process to find a new leader for Brown. The official record states that in May 2025, the Corporation of Brown University unanimously approved the extension of President Paxson’s term to June 30, 2028. Christina Paxson has served as Brown University president since 2012.

During Paxson's 14-year tenure, Brown University opened two new schools and created 165 new endowed professorships. Paxson's tenure as Brown University president is the longest of any current Ivy League university leader.

Why It Matters

Paxson's departure concludes a tenure defined by navigating federal pressure that threatened $510 million in grants and required policy changes on campus climate and admissions. Her refusal to accept later administration conditions regarding international students and hiring practices established a boundary for institutional autonomy against government funding leverage. The leadership transition occurs as the university implements settlement terms while managing the aftermath of a deadly campus shooting.