Yale Update: Leadership Changes, Endowment Tax Response, Global Recognition, and Innovations in Education, Health, and Security

Good afternoon, Yale community. It's Monday, July 28, 2025, and here are the latest updates from our campus. Dean Heather Gerken, who has led Yale Law School since 2017, will step down in November to become the president of the Ford Foundation. During her tenure, Dean Gerken spearheaded initiatives to make legal education more accessible, including eliminating tuition for low-income students. She also led a movement challenging the U.S. News law school rankings, prompting significant changes in their methodology. The university has not yet announced her successor. In anticipation of a proposed increase in the federal endowment tax, Yale has implemented a 90-day hiring pause and a 5% reduction in non-salary expenses. These measures aim to mitigate potential financial impacts on the university's budget. The administration is closely monitoring legislative developments and will adjust strategies as needed. Yale has intensified its lobbying efforts, spending $320,000 in the second quarter of 2025—a significant increase from previous quarters. The university has engaged prominent lobbying firms to advocate on its behalf, particularly concerning proposed federal policies affecting higher education funding. The Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition has launched the inaugural session of the Yale and Slavery Teachers Institute. This program aims to equip educators with resources to teach about slavery's history in New England. Twenty-nine teachers were selected from over 150 applicants to participate in the institute's first session. Yale School of Public Health students have developed a comprehensive dashboard to assist officials in responding to a measles outbreak in Texas. The tool includes maps, charts, and guidance for containment and treatment, filling a critical information gap during the crisis. Russia has designated Yale University as an "undesirable organization," alleging activities aimed at undermining its territorial integrity and economic foundations. This designation effectively bans Yale's operations within Russia and poses legal risks for individuals collaborating with the university. Yale, along with 23 other research universities, has filed a legal brief supporting a lawsuit challenging the federal government's freeze on research funding. The brief emphasizes the critical role of federal investment in scientific research for American innovation and economic growth. Several Yale students have been recognized with prestigious scholarships. Rishi Shah and August Rios, both from the class of 2026, received the Truman Scholarship for aspiring public service leaders. Elena Bouldin, also class of 2026, was named a Udall Scholar, and Karinne Tennenbaum received an honorable mention from the Udall Foundation. Additionally, six Yale students and a recent alumnus have been awarded the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans to support their graduate studies. Yale's Information Technology Services has initiated an enhanced multi-factor authentication process, requiring Duo MFA and removing Microsoft MFA as an option. This change aims to strengthen the university's cybersecurity measures. The Yale Center for Climate Change and Health co-hosted the Urban Pulse CityXChange Conference in Mexico, bringing together stakeholders from multiple countries to address issues at the intersection of climate change, health, and equity. That's all for today's update. Stay informed and engaged, Yale.