By — Molly Finnegan Molly Finnegan Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/read-the-full-letter-from-universities-opposing-government-intrusion Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Read the full letter from universities opposing ‘government intrusion’ Education Updated on Apr 24, 2025 1:27 PM EDT — Published on Apr 22, 2025 4:42 PM EDT Hundreds of college presidents and other officials have signed a letter protesting the “unprecedented government overreach and political interference” that higher education is facing under the Trump administration. Leaders of some elite private institutions that have been repeatedly targeted by President Donald Trump were among the signers. “We are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight. However, we must oppose undue government intrusion in the lives of those who learn, live, and work on our campuses,” the letter, released by the American Association of Colleges and Universities, stated. Since Tuesday, the list of schools supporting the letter has more than doubled. WATCH: Using funding to ‘force concessions’ threatens institutions, Princeton president says In his second term, Trump has worked to crack down on any aspect of college life that could be perceived as “DEI,” launched investigations into antisemitism and transgender student athletics on campuses and threatened universities’ federal funding and nonprofit statuses. He has also pledged to dismantle the Department of Education, which historically managed federal funding and student loans, civil rights enforcement and accreditation oversight. On Monday, Harvard University, a co-signer of Tuesday’s letter, sued the Trump administration for freezing $2.2 billion in grants. The government also demanded a number of reforms and concessions from the Ivy League school, which Harvard rebuffed. WATCH: Trump administration targets foreign student who protested against Israel’s war in Gaza Claire Shipman, the acting president of Columbia University, also signed the letter. Columbia last month agreed to the Trump administration’s demands to change many of its policies and admission practices. The university came under political fire as the site of contentious protests against the Israel-Hamas war. “Our colleges and universities share a commitment to serve as centers of open inquiry where, in their pursuit of truth, faculty, students, and staff are free to exchange ideas and opinions across a full range of viewpoints without fear of retribution, censorship, or deportation,” the AAC&U letter said. The roster of presidents signing on in support may still grow; the organization notes it continues to accept signatures. Read the full letter below. Updated April 24, 2025, 1:15 p.m. EDT A Call for Constructive Engagement April 22, 2025 As leaders of America’s colleges, universities, and scholarly societies, we speak with one voice against the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education. We are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight. However, we must oppose undue government intrusion in the lives of those who learn, live, and work on our campuses. We will always seek effective and fair financial practices, but we must reject the coercive use of public research funding. America’s system of higher learning is as varied as the goals and dreams of the students it serves. It includes research universities and community colleges; comprehensive universities and liberal arts colleges; public institutions and private ones; freestanding and multi-site campuses. Some institutions are designed for all students, and others are dedicated to serving particular groups. Yet, American institutions of higher learning have in common the essential freedom to determine, on academic grounds, whom to admit and what is taught, how, and by whom. Our colleges and universities share a commitment to serve as centers of open inquiry where, in their pursuit of truth, faculty, students, and staff are free to exchange ideas and opinions across a full range of viewpoints without fear of retribution, censorship, or deportation. Because of these freedoms, American institutions of higher learning are essential to American prosperity and serve as productive partners with government in promoting the common good. Colleges and universities are engines of opportunity and mobility, anchor institutions that contribute to economic and cultural vitality regionally and in our local communities. They foster creativity and innovation, provide human resources to meet the fast-changing demands of our dynamic workforce, and are themselves major employers. They nurture the scholarly pursuits that ensure America’s leadership in research, and many provide healthcare and other essential services. Most fundamentally, America’s colleges and universities prepare an educated citizenry to sustain our democracy. The price of abridging the defining freedoms of American higher education will be paid by our students and our society. On behalf of our current and future students, and all who work at and benefit from our institutions, we call for constructive engagement that improves our institutions and serves our republic. Signed, Andrés Acebo, Interim President, New Jersey City University Kenneth Adams, President, LaGuardia Community College Kimo Ah Yun, President, Marquette University Jonathan Alger, President, American University Barbara K. Altmann, President, Franklin & Marshall College Carmen Twillie Ambar, President, Oberlin College Suzanne Ames, President, Peninsula College Michelle J. Anderson, President, Brooklyn College James J. Annarelli, President, Eckerd College Michael D. Anthony, President, Prairie State College Joseph E. Aoun, President, Northeastern University Virginia “Ginny” Arthur, President, Metro State University Valerie Sheares Ashby, President, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Michael Avaltroni, President, Fairleigh Dickinson University Lynn Babington, President, Chaminade University of Honolulu Andrew W. Barnes, President, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Denise A. Battles, President, SUNY Geneseo Ian Baucom, Incoming President, Middlebury College Erika D. Beck, President, California State University, Northridge Rebecca M. Bergman, President, Gustavus Adolphus College Lola W. Brabham, President, The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities Corey Bradford, Interim President, Governors State University Thomas R. Bailey, President, Teachers College, Columbia University John C. Bravman, President, Bucknell University Allan Belton, President, Pacific Lutheran University Hubert Benitez, President, Saint Peter’s University Joanne Berger-Sweeney, President, Trinity College (CT) Jay M. Bernhardt, President, Emerson College Michael A. Bernstein, President, The College of New Jersey Joe Bertolino, President, Stockton University Audrey Bilger, President, Reed College James Birge, President, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Erik J. Bitterbaum, President, SUNY Cortland Robert E. Bohrer II, President, Hiram College Sarah Bolton, President, Whitman College Mary H. Bonderoff, President, SUNY Delhi Leon Botstein, President, Bard College Eric Boynton, President, Beloit College Vincent Boudreau, President, The City College of the City University of New York Elizabeth H. Bradley, President, Vassar College Frances Bronet, President, Pratt Institute Brian Bruess, President, College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University Joshua C. Brumberg, President, The Graduate Center, CUNY Andrew Burton-Jones, President, Association for Information Systems (AIS) Adam Bush, President, College Unbound Alison Byerly, President, Carleton College Wendy Cadge, President and Professor of Sociology, Bryn Mawr College Christopher Callahan, President, University of the Pacific Nancy Cantor, President, Hunter College CUNY Alberto Jose Cardelle, President, SUNY Oneonta Seamus Carey, President, Iona University John Carmichael, President, The Evergreen State College Laurie A. Carter, President, Lawrence University Brian W. Casey, President, Colgate University Ana Mari Cauce, Professor and President, University of Washington Andrea Chapdelaine, President, Connecticut College Julie Chen, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Lowell Thom D. Chesney, President, Southwestern College (NM) E. LaBrent Chrite, President, Bentley University Christina Clark, President, La Roche University Frederick W. Clark, President, Bridgewater State University Daisy Cocco De Filippis, President, Hostos Community College/CUNY Bryan F. Coker, President, Maryville College Ronald B. Cole, President, Allegheny College Soraya Coley, President, Cal Poly Pomona Jennifer Collins, President, Rhodes College Michael F. Collins, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School John Comerford, President, Otterbein University Katie Conboy, President, Saint Mary’s College (IN) Marc C. Conner, President, Skidmore College Joy Connolly, President, American Council of Learned Societies Jane C. Conoley, President, California State University, Long Beach Melanie Corn, President, Columbus College of Art & Design La Jerne Terry Cornish, President, Ithaca College Grant Cornwell, President, Rollins College Jennifer Coyle, President, Pacific University Isiaah Crawford, President, University of Puget Sound Ann E. Cudd, President, Portland State University Lindsay Currie, CEO, Council on Undergraduate Research Janine Davidson, President, Metropolitan State University of Denver Fernando Delgado, President, Lehman College Gregory G. Dell’Omo, President, Rider University Nora Demleitner, President, St. John’s College Rev. John F. Denning, C.S.C., President, Stonehill College Kent Devereaux, President, Goucher College Jim Dlugos, Interim President, Landmark College Bethami Dobkin, President, Westminster University Peter Donohue, OSA, President, Villanova University Susan M. Donovan, President, Bellarmine University Tawny Dotson, President, Yuba College Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., President, University of Notre Dame Suri Duitch, President, Kingsborough Community College Harry Dumay, President, Elms College Bonita R. Durand, Interim President, Buffalo State University SUNY Raj Echambadi, President, Illinois Institute of Technology Pam Eddinger, President, Bunker Hill Community College Christopher L. Eisgruber, President, Princeton University Michael A. Elliott, President, Amherst College Alexander Enyedi, President, SUNY Plattsburgh Kristin G. Esterberg, Chancellor, University of Washington Bothell Arthur C. Evans, Jr., Chief Executive Officer/Executive Vice President, American Psychological Association Marcheta P. Evans, President, St. Catherine University Jane Fernandes, President, Antioch College Roland Fernandes, General Secretary, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry Damian J. Fernandez, President, Warren Wilson College David Fike, President, Golden Gate University David Fithian, President, Clark University Michael L. Frandsen, President, Wittenberg University Lisa C. Freeman, President, Northern Illinois University Julio Frenk, Chancellor, UCLA John Fry, President, Temple University Montserrat Fuentes, President, St. Edward’s University Mark A. Fuller, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Robert Gaines, Acting President, Pomona College Lawrence Galizio, President and CEO, Community College League of California James Gandre, President, Manhattan School of Music Rev. Michael Garanzini, S.J., President, Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities Alan M. Garber, President, Harvard University Jay D. Gatrell, President, Eastern Illinois University Michael H. Gavin, President, Delta College Mark D. Gearan, President, Hobart and William Smith Colleges Robert Gervasi, President, Mount Saint Mary College Melissa Gilliam, President, Boston University Howard Gillman, Chancellor, University of California, Irvine Jeff Gingerich, President, St. Bonaventure University Mark R. Ginsberg, President, Towson University Lane A. Glenn, President, Northern Essex Community College Cindy Gnadinger, President, Carroll University Jorge G. Gonzalez, President, Kalamazoo College Janet L. Gooch, Chancellor, University of Illinois Springfield Ellen M. Granberg, President, The George Washington University Mary K. Grant, President, Massachusetts College of Art and Design Jonathan D. Green, President, Susquehanna University David A. Greene, President, Colby College James J. Greenfield, OSFS, President, DeSales University James Grossman, Executive Director, American Historical Association Robert M. Groves, Interim President, Georgetown University William R. Groves, Chancellor, Antioch University Jeremy Haefner, Chancellor, University of Denver Merodie Hancock, President, Thomas Edison State University Robyn Hannigan, President, Ursinus College Yoshiko Harden, President, Renton Technical College David Harker, Executive Director, Partners for Campus-Community Engagement (PCCE) Kathleen E. Harring, President, Muhlenberg College Anne F. Harris, President, Grinnell College David Harris, President, Union College James T. Harris, President, University of San Diego Marjorie Hass, President, Council of Independent Colleges Susan Hasseler, President, Muskingum University Antoinette Hays, President, Regis College Peggy Heinrich, President, Elgin Community College Richard J. Helldobler, President, William Paterson University Wendy Hensel, President, University of Hawaii James Herbert, President, University of New England Alejandro (Alex) Hernandez, President, Champlain College Doug Hicks, President, Davidson College Mary Dana Hinton, President, Hollins University Donna Hodge, President, Fitchburg State University John L. Hoffman, President, Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College Danielle R. Holley, President, Mount Holyoke College Jonathan Holloway, President, Rutgers University Robin Holmes-Sullivan, President, Lewis & Clark College Jessica Howard, President/CEO, Chemeketa Community College David C. Howse, President, California College of the Arts Lily S. Hsu, President, Laboure College of Healthcare Robert H. Huntington, President, Heidelberg University Nicole Hurd, President, Lafayette College Elaine Ikeda, Executive Director, LEAD California Wolde-Ab Isaac, Chancellor, Riverside Community College District Karim Ismaili, President, Eastern Connecticut State University Farnam Jahanian, President, Carnegie Mellon University J. Larry Jameson, President, University of Pennsylvania Bruce Jarrell, President, University of Maryland, Baltimore Lisa Jasinski, President, Associated Colleges of the Midwest Jonathan Jefferson, President, Roxbury Community College Garry W. Jenkins, President, Bates College Larry D. Johnson, Jr., President, Stella & Charles Guttman Community College Paula A. Johnson, President, Wellesley College Rebecca Johnson, Interim President, Linfield University John E. Jones III, President, Dickinson College Robert J. Jones, Chancellor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Katrina Bell Jordan, President, Northeastern Illinois University Tuajuanda C. Jordan, President, St. Mary’s College of Maryland Cristle Collins Judd, President, Sarah Lawrence College David L. Kaufman, President, Capital University Colleen Perry Keith, President, Goldey-Beacom College Marisa Kelly, President, Suffolk University Robert D. Kelly, President, University of Portland Pradeep K. Khosla, Chancellor, University of California San Diego Julie Johnson Kidd, President, Endeavor Foundation Timothy Killeen, President, University of Illinois System Walter M. Kimbrough, Interim President, Talladega College Heather Kirkpatrick, President & CEO, Alder Graduate School of Education Erica Kohl-Arenas, Faculty Director, Imagining America: Artists and Scholars in Public Life Jonathan Koppell, President, Montclair State University Sally Kornbluth, President, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Julie Kornfeld, President, Kenyon College Michael I. Kotlikoff, President, Cornell University Paula Krebs, Executive Director, Modern Language Association Robert D. Krebs, President, Lake Forest College Sunil Kumar, President, Tufts University Susan Lamb, President, Diablo Valley College Lee D. Lambert, Chancellor, Foothill-De Anza Community College District Sheila Edwards Lange, Chancellor, University of Washington Tacoma Cynthia Larive, Chancellor, University of California, Santa Cruz Bobbie Laur, President, Campus Compact Frederick M. Lawrence, Secretary and CEO, Phi Beta Kappa Society William P. Leahy, SJ, President, Boston College Linda M. LeMura, President, Le Moyne College Bethany Letiecq, President, National Council on Family Relations Arthur Levine, Interim President, Brandeis University Teik Lim, President, New Jersey Institute of Technology James M. Limbaugh, President, West Los Angeles College Hilary L. Link, President, Drew University Lisa A. Lori, President, Marywood University Timothy G. Lynch, President, College of Staten Island, CUNY Patricia A. Lynott, President, Rockford University Richard Lyons, Chancellor, University of California Berkeley Heidi Macpherson, President, SUNY Brockport John Maduko, President, Connecticut State Community College Joanne Mahoney, President, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Lynn Mahoney, President, San Francisco State University Daniel Mahony, President, Southern Illinois University Maud S. Mandel, President, Williams College Sarah C. Mangelsdorf, President, University of Rochester Christine Mangino, President, Queensborough Community College Andrew P. Manion, President, Edgewood College Amy Marcus-Newhall, President, Scripps College Joseph Marina, SJ, President, The University of Scranton Earl F. Martin III, President, Drake University Lizbeth Martin, President, Notre Dame de Namur University Karol Mason, President, John Jay College of Criminal Justice Felix V. Matos-Rodriguez, Chancellor, City University of New York (CUNY) Gary S. May, Chancellor, University of California, Davis Anne E. McCall, President, The College of Wooster Cheryl McConnell, President, Saint Joseph’s University Richard L. McCormick, Interim President, Stony Brook University Thayne M. McCulloh, President, Gonzaga University Barbara McDonald, President, The College of St. Scholastica Michael McDonald, President, Great Lakes Colleges Association C. Andrew McGadney, President, Knox College James McGrath, President and Dean, Cooley Law School Patricia McGuire, President, Trinity Washington University Maurie McInnis, President, Yale University Shari McMahan, President, Eastern Washington University Elizabeth M. Meade, President, Cedar Crest College Marty Meehan, President, University of Massachusetts Mojdeh Mehdizadeh, Chancellor, Contra Costa Community College District Mildred A. Mihlon, President, Felician University Scott D. Miller, President, Virginia Wesleyan University Marie Lynn Miranda, Chancellor, University of Illinois Chicago Jennifer Mnookin, Chancellor, University of Wisconsin–Madison Robert Mohrbacher, President, Centralia College Chris Moody, Executive Director, ACPA-College Student Educators International Tomas Morales, President, California State University San Bernardino Milton Moreland, President, Centre College Kathryn Morris, President, St. Lawrence University John R. Mosby, President, Highline College Ross Mugler, Board Chair and Acting President and CEO, Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges Juan S. Munoz, Chancellor, University of California Merced\ David C. Munson Jr., President, Rochester Institute of Technology Anthony E. Munroe, President, Borough of Manhattan Community College, CUNY Kathleen Murray, Acting/Interim President, Hamline University Daniel J. Myers, President, Misericordia University Lizette Navarette, President, Woodland Community College Harriet B. Nembhard, President, Harvey Mudd College Frank Neville, President, Millsaps College Krista L. Newkirk, President, University of Redlands Ellen Neufeldt, President, California State University San Marcos Nancy S. Niemi, President, Framingham State University Stefanie D. Niles, President, Cottey College Cheryl L. Nixon, President, Berea College Deborah Obalil, President and Executive Director, Association of Independent Colleges of Art & Design Maureen O’Connor, President, Palo Alto University Judy Olian, President, Quinnipiac University Claire Oliveros, President, Riverside City College Santa J. Ono, President, University of Michigan Douglas B. Palmer, President, Siena Heights University Thomas A. Parham, President, California State University-Dominguez Hills Micaela S. Parker, Founder and Executive Director, Academic Data Science Alliance Robyn Parker, Interim President, Saybrook University Marc Parlange, President, University of Rhode Island Amy Parsons, President, Colorado State University Lynn Pasquerella, President, American Association of Colleges and Universities Laurie L. Patton, President, American Academy of Arts and Sciences Beth Paul, President, Nazareth University Christina Paxson, President, Brown University Rob Pearigen, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of the South J. Michael Pearson, Executive Director, Mathematical Association of America Deidra Peaslee, President, Saint Paul College Milagros (Milly) Peña, President, Purchase College, SUNY Eduardo M. Peñalver, President, Seattle University Ora Pescovitz, President, Oakland University Fred P. Pestello, President, Saint Louis University Sarah Pfatteicher, Executive Director, Five College Consortium Rhonda Phillips, President, Chatham University Darryll J. Pines, President, University of Maryland Nicola Pitchford, President, Dominican University of California Richard Plumb, President, Saint Michael’s College Shael Polakow-Suransky, President, Bank Street College of Education Kevin Pollock, President, Central Carolina Technical College Andrew David Pomerville, President, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Susan Poser, President, Hofstra University Robert Prezant, President, Farmingdale State College SUNY Paul C. Pribbenow, President, Augsburg University Vincent Price, President, Duke University Robert Quinn, Executive Director, Scholars at Risk Network Ravi Rajan, President, California Institute of the Arts Patricia Ramsey, President, Medgar Evers College (CUNY) Sabah Randhawa, President, Western Washington University Wendy E. Raymond, President, Haverford College Christopher M. Reber, President, Hudson County Community College Mark C. Reed, President, Loyola University Chicago Andrew Rehfeld, President, Hebrew Union College Joseph Reilly, S.T.L., President, Seton Hall University Mary Lou Retelle, President, Anna Maria College Javier Reyes, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Amherst Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap, Chancellor, Seattle Colleges Christine M. Riordan, President, Adelphi University Britt Rios-Ellis, President, California State University, Stanislaus Suzanne M. Rivera, President, Macalester College Ronald S. Rochon, President, California State University, Fullerton Havidán Rodríguez, President, University at Albany Christopher F. Roellke, President, Stetson University Kimberly R. Rogers, President, Contra Costa College Beth Ross, President, Emmanuel College Michael S. Roth, President, Wesleyan University Vincent Rougeau, President, College of the Holy Cross Sue Ott Rowlands, President, Randolph College Paulette Granberry Russell, President and CEO, National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education James Ryan, President, University of Virginia Cathy Sandeen, President, Cal State East Bay Brian Sandoval, President, Univ. of Nevada, Reno Terrence Sawyer, President, Loyola University Maryland Michael Schill, President, Northwestern University Kurt L. Schmoke, President, University of Baltimore Carol Geary Schneider, Acting Executive Director, Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement Coalition Karl Scholz, President, University of Oregon Claudia Schrader, President, York College, CUNY David Scobey, Director, Bringing Theory to Practice Sean M. Scott, President and Dean, California Western School of Law Zaldwaynaka Scott, President, Chicago State University Charles F. Seifert, President, Siena College Sanjit Sethi, President and CEO, Minneapolis College of Art and Design Claire Shipman, Acting President, Columbia University Frank Shushok, Jr., President, Roanoke College Susan Rundell Singer, President, St. Olaf College Philip J. Sisson, President, Middlesex Community College (MA) Joianne Smith, President, Oakton College Suzanne Smith, President, SUNY Potsdam Valerie Smith, President, Swarthmore College Paul Sniegowski, President, Earlham College Barbara R. Snyder, President, Association of American Universities Stephen Snyder, Interim President, Middlebury College Kristen F. Soares, President, Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) Rachel Solemsaas, President, North Seattle College Mike Sosulski, President, Washington College Weymouth Spence, President, Washington Adventist University Eric F. Spina, President, University of Dayton Terri Standish-Kuon, President and CEO, Independent Colleges of Washington G. Gabrielle Starr, President, Pomona College Harvey Stenger, President, Binghamton University Amy Storey, President, Keuka College David M. Stout, President, Brookdale Community College Karen A. Stout, President, Achieving the Dream Steve K. Stoute, President, Canisius University Tom Stritikus, President, Occidental College Daniele Struppa, President, Chapman University Marcelo Suarez-Orozco, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Boston Julie Sullivan, President, Santa Clara University Andrea Kathryn Talentino, President, Augustana College Aondover Tarhule, President, Illinois State University Glena Temple, President, Dominican University Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President, San Jose State University Steven J. Tepper. President, Hamilton College Kellye Y. Testy, CEO, Association of American Law Schools Tania Tetlow, President, Fordham University Strom C. Thacker, President, Pitzer College Gloria D. Thomas, President, HERS (Higher Education Resource Services) Scott L. Thomas, President, Sterling College Linda Thompson, President, Westfield State University Adela de la Torre, President, San Diego State University Stephen Thorsett, President, Willamette University Sylvia Torti, President, College of the Atlantic Joel Towers, President, The New School Deborah Trautman, President and CEO, American Association of Colleges of Nursing Satish K. Tripathi, President, University at Buffalo, SUNY James Troha, President, Juniata College Kyaw Moe Tun, President, Parami University Matthew Turk, President, Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago Brad Tyndall, President, Central Wyoming College LaTanya Tyson, President, Carolina Christian College Matthew P. vandenBerg, President, Ohio Wesleyan University James Vander Hooven, President, Mount Wachusett Community College Rob Vischer, President, University of St. Thomas Jeannine Diddle Uzzi, President, Thomas College Laura R. Walker, President, Bennington College Grace Wang, President, Worcester Polytechnic Institute Yolanda Watson Spiva, President, Complete College America Phil Weilerstein, President, VentureWell Adam Weinberg, President, Denison University Steven A. Weiner, President, Menlo College Kevin C. Weinman, President, Marist University Lamont A. Wells, Executive Director, Network of ELCA Colleges And Universities Susan R. Wente, President, Wake Forest University Darrell Wheeler, President, SUNY New Paltz Michaele Whelan, President, Wheaton College (MA) Manya C. Whitaker, Interim President, Colorado College Julie A. Manley White, Chancellor and CEO, Pierce College Kim A. Wilcox, Chancellor, University of California, Riverside Crystal Williams, President, Rhode Island School of Design Sarah Willie-LeBreton, President, Smith College Ed Wingenbach, President, Hampshire College Mitchel L. Winick, President, Monterey College of Law Jim Wohlpart, President, Central Washington University Luke Wood, President, California State University, Sacramento Lynn Perry Wooten, President, Simmons University Frank H. Wu, President, Queens College, CUNY S. David Wu, President, Baruch College Henry T. Yang, Chancellor, University of California, Santa Barbara Richard Yao, President, California State University Channel Islands Madeline Yates, Executive Director, Transform Mid-Atlantic Leocadia I. Zak, President, Agnes Scott College Safa R. Zaki, President, Bowdoin College Mark Zupan, President, Alfred University Support PBS News Hour Your tax-deductible donation ensures our vital reporting continues to thrive. Donate By — Molly Finnegan Molly Finnegan
Hundreds of college presidents and other officials have signed a letter protesting the “unprecedented government overreach and political interference” that higher education is facing under the Trump administration. Leaders of some elite private institutions that have been repeatedly targeted by President Donald Trump were among the signers. “We are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight. However, we must oppose undue government intrusion in the lives of those who learn, live, and work on our campuses,” the letter, released by the American Association of Colleges and Universities, stated. Since Tuesday, the list of schools supporting the letter has more than doubled. WATCH: Using funding to ‘force concessions’ threatens institutions, Princeton president says In his second term, Trump has worked to crack down on any aspect of college life that could be perceived as “DEI,” launched investigations into antisemitism and transgender student athletics on campuses and threatened universities’ federal funding and nonprofit statuses. He has also pledged to dismantle the Department of Education, which historically managed federal funding and student loans, civil rights enforcement and accreditation oversight. On Monday, Harvard University, a co-signer of Tuesday’s letter, sued the Trump administration for freezing $2.2 billion in grants. The government also demanded a number of reforms and concessions from the Ivy League school, which Harvard rebuffed. WATCH: Trump administration targets foreign student who protested against Israel’s war in Gaza Claire Shipman, the acting president of Columbia University, also signed the letter. Columbia last month agreed to the Trump administration’s demands to change many of its policies and admission practices. The university came under political fire as the site of contentious protests against the Israel-Hamas war. “Our colleges and universities share a commitment to serve as centers of open inquiry where, in their pursuit of truth, faculty, students, and staff are free to exchange ideas and opinions across a full range of viewpoints without fear of retribution, censorship, or deportation,” the AAC&U letter said. The roster of presidents signing on in support may still grow; the organization notes it continues to accept signatures. Read the full letter below. Updated April 24, 2025, 1:15 p.m. EDT A Call for Constructive Engagement April 22, 2025 As leaders of America’s colleges, universities, and scholarly societies, we speak with one voice against the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education. We are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight. However, we must oppose undue government intrusion in the lives of those who learn, live, and work on our campuses. We will always seek effective and fair financial practices, but we must reject the coercive use of public research funding. America’s system of higher learning is as varied as the goals and dreams of the students it serves. It includes research universities and community colleges; comprehensive universities and liberal arts colleges; public institutions and private ones; freestanding and multi-site campuses. Some institutions are designed for all students, and others are dedicated to serving particular groups. Yet, American institutions of higher learning have in common the essential freedom to determine, on academic grounds, whom to admit and what is taught, how, and by whom. Our colleges and universities share a commitment to serve as centers of open inquiry where, in their pursuit of truth, faculty, students, and staff are free to exchange ideas and opinions across a full range of viewpoints without fear of retribution, censorship, or deportation. Because of these freedoms, American institutions of higher learning are essential to American prosperity and serve as productive partners with government in promoting the common good. Colleges and universities are engines of opportunity and mobility, anchor institutions that contribute to economic and cultural vitality regionally and in our local communities. They foster creativity and innovation, provide human resources to meet the fast-changing demands of our dynamic workforce, and are themselves major employers. They nurture the scholarly pursuits that ensure America’s leadership in research, and many provide healthcare and other essential services. Most fundamentally, America’s colleges and universities prepare an educated citizenry to sustain our democracy. The price of abridging the defining freedoms of American higher education will be paid by our students and our society. On behalf of our current and future students, and all who work at and benefit from our institutions, we call for constructive engagement that improves our institutions and serves our republic. Signed, Andrés Acebo, Interim President, New Jersey City University Kenneth Adams, President, LaGuardia Community College Kimo Ah Yun, President, Marquette University Jonathan Alger, President, American University Barbara K. Altmann, President, Franklin & Marshall College Carmen Twillie Ambar, President, Oberlin College Suzanne Ames, President, Peninsula College Michelle J. Anderson, President, Brooklyn College James J. Annarelli, President, Eckerd College Michael D. Anthony, President, Prairie State College Joseph E. Aoun, President, Northeastern University Virginia “Ginny” Arthur, President, Metro State University Valerie Sheares Ashby, President, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Michael Avaltroni, President, Fairleigh Dickinson University Lynn Babington, President, Chaminade University of Honolulu Andrew W. Barnes, President, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Denise A. Battles, President, SUNY Geneseo Ian Baucom, Incoming President, Middlebury College Erika D. Beck, President, California State University, Northridge Rebecca M. Bergman, President, Gustavus Adolphus College Lola W. Brabham, President, The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities Corey Bradford, Interim President, Governors State University Thomas R. Bailey, President, Teachers College, Columbia University John C. Bravman, President, Bucknell University Allan Belton, President, Pacific Lutheran University Hubert Benitez, President, Saint Peter’s University Joanne Berger-Sweeney, President, Trinity College (CT) Jay M. Bernhardt, President, Emerson College Michael A. Bernstein, President, The College of New Jersey Joe Bertolino, President, Stockton University Audrey Bilger, President, Reed College James Birge, President, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Erik J. Bitterbaum, President, SUNY Cortland Robert E. Bohrer II, President, Hiram College Sarah Bolton, President, Whitman College Mary H. Bonderoff, President, SUNY Delhi Leon Botstein, President, Bard College Eric Boynton, President, Beloit College Vincent Boudreau, President, The City College of the City University of New York Elizabeth H. Bradley, President, Vassar College Frances Bronet, President, Pratt Institute Brian Bruess, President, College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University Joshua C. Brumberg, President, The Graduate Center, CUNY Andrew Burton-Jones, President, Association for Information Systems (AIS) Adam Bush, President, College Unbound Alison Byerly, President, Carleton College Wendy Cadge, President and Professor of Sociology, Bryn Mawr College Christopher Callahan, President, University of the Pacific Nancy Cantor, President, Hunter College CUNY Alberto Jose Cardelle, President, SUNY Oneonta Seamus Carey, President, Iona University John Carmichael, President, The Evergreen State College Laurie A. Carter, President, Lawrence University Brian W. Casey, President, Colgate University Ana Mari Cauce, Professor and President, University of Washington Andrea Chapdelaine, President, Connecticut College Julie Chen, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Lowell Thom D. Chesney, President, Southwestern College (NM) E. LaBrent Chrite, President, Bentley University Christina Clark, President, La Roche University Frederick W. Clark, President, Bridgewater State University Daisy Cocco De Filippis, President, Hostos Community College/CUNY Bryan F. Coker, President, Maryville College Ronald B. Cole, President, Allegheny College Soraya Coley, President, Cal Poly Pomona Jennifer Collins, President, Rhodes College Michael F. Collins, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School John Comerford, President, Otterbein University Katie Conboy, President, Saint Mary’s College (IN) Marc C. Conner, President, Skidmore College Joy Connolly, President, American Council of Learned Societies Jane C. Conoley, President, California State University, Long Beach Melanie Corn, President, Columbus College of Art & Design La Jerne Terry Cornish, President, Ithaca College Grant Cornwell, President, Rollins College Jennifer Coyle, President, Pacific University Isiaah Crawford, President, University of Puget Sound Ann E. Cudd, President, Portland State University Lindsay Currie, CEO, Council on Undergraduate Research Janine Davidson, President, Metropolitan State University of Denver Fernando Delgado, President, Lehman College Gregory G. Dell’Omo, President, Rider University Nora Demleitner, President, St. John’s College Rev. John F. Denning, C.S.C., President, Stonehill College Kent Devereaux, President, Goucher College Jim Dlugos, Interim President, Landmark College Bethami Dobkin, President, Westminster University Peter Donohue, OSA, President, Villanova University Susan M. Donovan, President, Bellarmine University Tawny Dotson, President, Yuba College Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., President, University of Notre Dame Suri Duitch, President, Kingsborough Community College Harry Dumay, President, Elms College Bonita R. Durand, Interim President, Buffalo State University SUNY Raj Echambadi, President, Illinois Institute of Technology Pam Eddinger, President, Bunker Hill Community College Christopher L. Eisgruber, President, Princeton University Michael A. Elliott, President, Amherst College Alexander Enyedi, President, SUNY Plattsburgh Kristin G. Esterberg, Chancellor, University of Washington Bothell Arthur C. Evans, Jr., Chief Executive Officer/Executive Vice President, American Psychological Association Marcheta P. Evans, President, St. Catherine University Jane Fernandes, President, Antioch College Roland Fernandes, General Secretary, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry Damian J. Fernandez, President, Warren Wilson College David Fike, President, Golden Gate University David Fithian, President, Clark University Michael L. Frandsen, President, Wittenberg University Lisa C. Freeman, President, Northern Illinois University Julio Frenk, Chancellor, UCLA John Fry, President, Temple University Montserrat Fuentes, President, St. Edward’s University Mark A. Fuller, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Robert Gaines, Acting President, Pomona College Lawrence Galizio, President and CEO, Community College League of California James Gandre, President, Manhattan School of Music Rev. Michael Garanzini, S.J., President, Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities Alan M. Garber, President, Harvard University Jay D. Gatrell, President, Eastern Illinois University Michael H. Gavin, President, Delta College Mark D. Gearan, President, Hobart and William Smith Colleges Robert Gervasi, President, Mount Saint Mary College Melissa Gilliam, President, Boston University Howard Gillman, Chancellor, University of California, Irvine Jeff Gingerich, President, St. Bonaventure University Mark R. Ginsberg, President, Towson University Lane A. Glenn, President, Northern Essex Community College Cindy Gnadinger, President, Carroll University Jorge G. Gonzalez, President, Kalamazoo College Janet L. Gooch, Chancellor, University of Illinois Springfield Ellen M. Granberg, President, The George Washington University Mary K. Grant, President, Massachusetts College of Art and Design Jonathan D. Green, President, Susquehanna University David A. Greene, President, Colby College James J. Greenfield, OSFS, President, DeSales University James Grossman, Executive Director, American Historical Association Robert M. Groves, Interim President, Georgetown University William R. Groves, Chancellor, Antioch University Jeremy Haefner, Chancellor, University of Denver Merodie Hancock, President, Thomas Edison State University Robyn Hannigan, President, Ursinus College Yoshiko Harden, President, Renton Technical College David Harker, Executive Director, Partners for Campus-Community Engagement (PCCE) Kathleen E. Harring, President, Muhlenberg College Anne F. Harris, President, Grinnell College David Harris, President, Union College James T. Harris, President, University of San Diego Marjorie Hass, President, Council of Independent Colleges Susan Hasseler, President, Muskingum University Antoinette Hays, President, Regis College Peggy Heinrich, President, Elgin Community College Richard J. Helldobler, President, William Paterson University Wendy Hensel, President, University of Hawaii James Herbert, President, University of New England Alejandro (Alex) Hernandez, President, Champlain College Doug Hicks, President, Davidson College Mary Dana Hinton, President, Hollins University Donna Hodge, President, Fitchburg State University John L. Hoffman, President, Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College Danielle R. Holley, President, Mount Holyoke College Jonathan Holloway, President, Rutgers University Robin Holmes-Sullivan, President, Lewis & Clark College Jessica Howard, President/CEO, Chemeketa Community College David C. Howse, President, California College of the Arts Lily S. Hsu, President, Laboure College of Healthcare Robert H. Huntington, President, Heidelberg University Nicole Hurd, President, Lafayette College Elaine Ikeda, Executive Director, LEAD California Wolde-Ab Isaac, Chancellor, Riverside Community College District Karim Ismaili, President, Eastern Connecticut State University Farnam Jahanian, President, Carnegie Mellon University J. Larry Jameson, President, University of Pennsylvania Bruce Jarrell, President, University of Maryland, Baltimore Lisa Jasinski, President, Associated Colleges of the Midwest Jonathan Jefferson, President, Roxbury Community College Garry W. Jenkins, President, Bates College Larry D. Johnson, Jr., President, Stella & Charles Guttman Community College Paula A. Johnson, President, Wellesley College Rebecca Johnson, Interim President, Linfield University John E. Jones III, President, Dickinson College Robert J. Jones, Chancellor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Katrina Bell Jordan, President, Northeastern Illinois University Tuajuanda C. Jordan, President, St. Mary’s College of Maryland Cristle Collins Judd, President, Sarah Lawrence College David L. Kaufman, President, Capital University Colleen Perry Keith, President, Goldey-Beacom College Marisa Kelly, President, Suffolk University Robert D. Kelly, President, University of Portland Pradeep K. Khosla, Chancellor, University of California San Diego Julie Johnson Kidd, President, Endeavor Foundation Timothy Killeen, President, University of Illinois System Walter M. Kimbrough, Interim President, Talladega College Heather Kirkpatrick, President & CEO, Alder Graduate School of Education Erica Kohl-Arenas, Faculty Director, Imagining America: Artists and Scholars in Public Life Jonathan Koppell, President, Montclair State University Sally Kornbluth, President, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Julie Kornfeld, President, Kenyon College Michael I. Kotlikoff, President, Cornell University Paula Krebs, Executive Director, Modern Language Association Robert D. Krebs, President, Lake Forest College Sunil Kumar, President, Tufts University Susan Lamb, President, Diablo Valley College Lee D. Lambert, Chancellor, Foothill-De Anza Community College District Sheila Edwards Lange, Chancellor, University of Washington Tacoma Cynthia Larive, Chancellor, University of California, Santa Cruz Bobbie Laur, President, Campus Compact Frederick M. Lawrence, Secretary and CEO, Phi Beta Kappa Society William P. Leahy, SJ, President, Boston College Linda M. LeMura, President, Le Moyne College Bethany Letiecq, President, National Council on Family Relations Arthur Levine, Interim President, Brandeis University Teik Lim, President, New Jersey Institute of Technology James M. Limbaugh, President, West Los Angeles College Hilary L. Link, President, Drew University Lisa A. Lori, President, Marywood University Timothy G. Lynch, President, College of Staten Island, CUNY Patricia A. Lynott, President, Rockford University Richard Lyons, Chancellor, University of California Berkeley Heidi Macpherson, President, SUNY Brockport John Maduko, President, Connecticut State Community College Joanne Mahoney, President, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Lynn Mahoney, President, San Francisco State University Daniel Mahony, President, Southern Illinois University Maud S. Mandel, President, Williams College Sarah C. Mangelsdorf, President, University of Rochester Christine Mangino, President, Queensborough Community College Andrew P. Manion, President, Edgewood College Amy Marcus-Newhall, President, Scripps College Joseph Marina, SJ, President, The University of Scranton Earl F. Martin III, President, Drake University Lizbeth Martin, President, Notre Dame de Namur University Karol Mason, President, John Jay College of Criminal Justice Felix V. Matos-Rodriguez, Chancellor, City University of New York (CUNY) Gary S. May, Chancellor, University of California, Davis Anne E. McCall, President, The College of Wooster Cheryl McConnell, President, Saint Joseph’s University Richard L. McCormick, Interim President, Stony Brook University Thayne M. McCulloh, President, Gonzaga University Barbara McDonald, President, The College of St. Scholastica Michael McDonald, President, Great Lakes Colleges Association C. Andrew McGadney, President, Knox College James McGrath, President and Dean, Cooley Law School Patricia McGuire, President, Trinity Washington University Maurie McInnis, President, Yale University Shari McMahan, President, Eastern Washington University Elizabeth M. Meade, President, Cedar Crest College Marty Meehan, President, University of Massachusetts Mojdeh Mehdizadeh, Chancellor, Contra Costa Community College District Mildred A. Mihlon, President, Felician University Scott D. Miller, President, Virginia Wesleyan University Marie Lynn Miranda, Chancellor, University of Illinois Chicago Jennifer Mnookin, Chancellor, University of Wisconsin–Madison Robert Mohrbacher, President, Centralia College Chris Moody, Executive Director, ACPA-College Student Educators International Tomas Morales, President, California State University San Bernardino Milton Moreland, President, Centre College Kathryn Morris, President, St. Lawrence University John R. Mosby, President, Highline College Ross Mugler, Board Chair and Acting President and CEO, Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges Juan S. Munoz, Chancellor, University of California Merced\ David C. Munson Jr., President, Rochester Institute of Technology Anthony E. Munroe, President, Borough of Manhattan Community College, CUNY Kathleen Murray, Acting/Interim President, Hamline University Daniel J. Myers, President, Misericordia University Lizette Navarette, President, Woodland Community College Harriet B. Nembhard, President, Harvey Mudd College Frank Neville, President, Millsaps College Krista L. Newkirk, President, University of Redlands Ellen Neufeldt, President, California State University San Marcos Nancy S. Niemi, President, Framingham State University Stefanie D. Niles, President, Cottey College Cheryl L. Nixon, President, Berea College Deborah Obalil, President and Executive Director, Association of Independent Colleges of Art & Design Maureen O’Connor, President, Palo Alto University Judy Olian, President, Quinnipiac University Claire Oliveros, President, Riverside City College Santa J. Ono, President, University of Michigan Douglas B. Palmer, President, Siena Heights University Thomas A. Parham, President, California State University-Dominguez Hills Micaela S. Parker, Founder and Executive Director, Academic Data Science Alliance Robyn Parker, Interim President, Saybrook University Marc Parlange, President, University of Rhode Island Amy Parsons, President, Colorado State University Lynn Pasquerella, President, American Association of Colleges and Universities Laurie L. Patton, President, American Academy of Arts and Sciences Beth Paul, President, Nazareth University Christina Paxson, President, Brown University Rob Pearigen, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of the South J. Michael Pearson, Executive Director, Mathematical Association of America Deidra Peaslee, President, Saint Paul College Milagros (Milly) Peña, President, Purchase College, SUNY Eduardo M. Peñalver, President, Seattle University Ora Pescovitz, President, Oakland University Fred P. Pestello, President, Saint Louis University Sarah Pfatteicher, Executive Director, Five College Consortium Rhonda Phillips, President, Chatham University Darryll J. Pines, President, University of Maryland Nicola Pitchford, President, Dominican University of California Richard Plumb, President, Saint Michael’s College Shael Polakow-Suransky, President, Bank Street College of Education Kevin Pollock, President, Central Carolina Technical College Andrew David Pomerville, President, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Susan Poser, President, Hofstra University Robert Prezant, President, Farmingdale State College SUNY Paul C. Pribbenow, President, Augsburg University Vincent Price, President, Duke University Robert Quinn, Executive Director, Scholars at Risk Network Ravi Rajan, President, California Institute of the Arts Patricia Ramsey, President, Medgar Evers College (CUNY) Sabah Randhawa, President, Western Washington University Wendy E. Raymond, President, Haverford College Christopher M. Reber, President, Hudson County Community College Mark C. Reed, President, Loyola University Chicago Andrew Rehfeld, President, Hebrew Union College Joseph Reilly, S.T.L., President, Seton Hall University Mary Lou Retelle, President, Anna Maria College Javier Reyes, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Amherst Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap, Chancellor, Seattle Colleges Christine M. Riordan, President, Adelphi University Britt Rios-Ellis, President, California State University, Stanislaus Suzanne M. Rivera, President, Macalester College Ronald S. Rochon, President, California State University, Fullerton Havidán Rodríguez, President, University at Albany Christopher F. Roellke, President, Stetson University Kimberly R. Rogers, President, Contra Costa College Beth Ross, President, Emmanuel College Michael S. Roth, President, Wesleyan University Vincent Rougeau, President, College of the Holy Cross Sue Ott Rowlands, President, Randolph College Paulette Granberry Russell, President and CEO, National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education James Ryan, President, University of Virginia Cathy Sandeen, President, Cal State East Bay Brian Sandoval, President, Univ. of Nevada, Reno Terrence Sawyer, President, Loyola University Maryland Michael Schill, President, Northwestern University Kurt L. Schmoke, President, University of Baltimore Carol Geary Schneider, Acting Executive Director, Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement Coalition Karl Scholz, President, University of Oregon Claudia Schrader, President, York College, CUNY David Scobey, Director, Bringing Theory to Practice Sean M. Scott, President and Dean, California Western School of Law Zaldwaynaka Scott, President, Chicago State University Charles F. Seifert, President, Siena College Sanjit Sethi, President and CEO, Minneapolis College of Art and Design Claire Shipman, Acting President, Columbia University Frank Shushok, Jr., President, Roanoke College Susan Rundell Singer, President, St. Olaf College Philip J. Sisson, President, Middlesex Community College (MA) Joianne Smith, President, Oakton College Suzanne Smith, President, SUNY Potsdam Valerie Smith, President, Swarthmore College Paul Sniegowski, President, Earlham College Barbara R. Snyder, President, Association of American Universities Stephen Snyder, Interim President, Middlebury College Kristen F. Soares, President, Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) Rachel Solemsaas, President, North Seattle College Mike Sosulski, President, Washington College Weymouth Spence, President, Washington Adventist University Eric F. Spina, President, University of Dayton Terri Standish-Kuon, President and CEO, Independent Colleges of Washington G. Gabrielle Starr, President, Pomona College Harvey Stenger, President, Binghamton University Amy Storey, President, Keuka College David M. Stout, President, Brookdale Community College Karen A. Stout, President, Achieving the Dream Steve K. Stoute, President, Canisius University Tom Stritikus, President, Occidental College Daniele Struppa, President, Chapman University Marcelo Suarez-Orozco, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Boston Julie Sullivan, President, Santa Clara University Andrea Kathryn Talentino, President, Augustana College Aondover Tarhule, President, Illinois State University Glena Temple, President, Dominican University Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President, San Jose State University Steven J. Tepper. President, Hamilton College Kellye Y. Testy, CEO, Association of American Law Schools Tania Tetlow, President, Fordham University Strom C. Thacker, President, Pitzer College Gloria D. Thomas, President, HERS (Higher Education Resource Services) Scott L. Thomas, President, Sterling College Linda Thompson, President, Westfield State University Adela de la Torre, President, San Diego State University Stephen Thorsett, President, Willamette University Sylvia Torti, President, College of the Atlantic Joel Towers, President, The New School Deborah Trautman, President and CEO, American Association of Colleges of Nursing Satish K. Tripathi, President, University at Buffalo, SUNY James Troha, President, Juniata College Kyaw Moe Tun, President, Parami University Matthew Turk, President, Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago Brad Tyndall, President, Central Wyoming College LaTanya Tyson, President, Carolina Christian College Matthew P. vandenBerg, President, Ohio Wesleyan University James Vander Hooven, President, Mount Wachusett Community College Rob Vischer, President, University of St. Thomas Jeannine Diddle Uzzi, President, Thomas College Laura R. Walker, President, Bennington College Grace Wang, President, Worcester Polytechnic Institute Yolanda Watson Spiva, President, Complete College America Phil Weilerstein, President, VentureWell Adam Weinberg, President, Denison University Steven A. Weiner, President, Menlo College Kevin C. Weinman, President, Marist University Lamont A. Wells, Executive Director, Network of ELCA Colleges And Universities Susan R. Wente, President, Wake Forest University Darrell Wheeler, President, SUNY New Paltz Michaele Whelan, President, Wheaton College (MA) Manya C. Whitaker, Interim President, Colorado College Julie A. Manley White, Chancellor and CEO, Pierce College Kim A. Wilcox, Chancellor, University of California, Riverside Crystal Williams, President, Rhode Island School of Design Sarah Willie-LeBreton, President, Smith College Ed Wingenbach, President, Hampshire College Mitchel L. Winick, President, Monterey College of Law Jim Wohlpart, President, Central Washington University Luke Wood, President, California State University, Sacramento Lynn Perry Wooten, President, Simmons University Frank H. Wu, President, Queens College, CUNY S. David Wu, President, Baruch College Henry T. Yang, Chancellor, University of California, Santa Barbara Richard Yao, President, California State University Channel Islands Madeline Yates, Executive Director, Transform Mid-Atlantic Leocadia I. Zak, President, Agnes Scott College Safa R. Zaki, President, Bowdoin College Mark Zupan, President, Alfred University Support PBS News Hour Your tax-deductible donation ensures our vital reporting continues to thrive. Donate