Minouche Shafik
Minouche Shafik is the current president of Columbia University, starting in July 2023. Her real name is Nemat Talaat Shafik, but she goes by her nickname Minouche, which is a term of endearment for small cats in French related to a word for kissing. Make of this what you will.
Previously, she was an economist, serving in public roles such as deputy governor of the Bank of England, vice president of the World Bank, deputy managing director of the IMF, and head of LSE. As a result of her service, she was styled "Baroness Shafik of Camden and Alexandria" (yes, really, the UK confers aristocratic titles related to foreign places such as Shafik's native Egypt) and a member of the House of Lords. She is consequently known as Baroness Shafik or sometimes nicknamed simply the Baroness.
Shafik's tenure is deeply controversial due to her actions calling in the NYPD to suppress the Gaza Solidarity Encampment and the occupation of Hamilton Hall in Spring 2024.
| Preceded by Lee Bollinger |
President of Columbia University 2023- |
Succeeded by incumbent |
