This story is developing and will continue to be updated.
Penn President Larry Jameson will step down as planned from his role at the helm of the University in June 2027.
Jameson served — first in an interim capacity and then as Penn’s 10th permanent president — during a prolonged period of campus turmoil, administrative turnover, and federal scrutiny. During his term, the former executive vice president of the University of Pennsylvania Health System was seen as a stabilizing force by many in the campus community.
“When I accepted the honor of leading Penn, my goal was to help restore stability during unanticipated leadership transitions, refocus our community on Penn’s mission, and strengthen Penn for the future during a challenging time for higher education,” Jameson wrote in the June 12 message to the Penn community.
He added that there is “no substitute for being in this role.”
“In many respects, I felt kinship with our first-year students who encounter and embrace all that Penn has to offer,” Jameson wrote.
Jameson was named as Penn’s interim president in December 2023 following former Penn President Liz Magill’s resignation, which came amid national criticism of the University’s response to antisemitism on campus and her remarks at a congressional hearing.
Magill was the first president to resign for reasons other than a government appointment. Jameson’s tenure as permanent Penn president will be the second shortest, longer only than Magill’s own.
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When Jameson assumed the role of permanent president in March 2025, his term was set to end on June 30, 2027.
In a separate email to the Penn community, Raghavendran explained that the Board “respects his decision” and will “begin the comprehensive process” to identify Penn’s next president, who will assume office on July 1, 2027.
“Dr. Jameson stepped in at a pivotal moment, and what he has accomplished in two and a half years has been simply extraordinary,” Raghavendran wrote. “His work is far from finished.”
He added that the remaining time in Jameson’s term would be devoted to expanding Penn Forward initiatives and broadening Penn’s “geographic reach and impact.”
“As I said when I began this role, ‘Like you, I love Penn,’” Jameson wrote.
RELATED:
Larry Jameson appointed Penn’s 10th president following interim term
Jameson reaffirms Penn’s commitment to ‘access and inclusion’ in campus-wide message
Staff reporter James Wan covers academic affairs and can be reached at wan@thedp.com. At Penn, he studies communication and computer science. Follow him on X @JamesWan__.
Senior reporter Arti Jain covers state and local politics and can be reached at jain@thedp.com. At Penn, she studies economics and political science. Follow her on X @arti_jain_.
Staff reporter Lavanya Mani covers legal affairs and can be reached at mani@thedp.com. At Penn, she studies English. Follow her on X @lavanyamani_.
