Columbia Senior Executive Vice President Gerry Rosberg is retiring after eight years of service at the University.

On July 1, Columbia Senior Executive Vice President Gerry Rosberg announced his retirement after eight years of service at the University. Columbia President Minouche Shafik commemorated Rosberg’s last day with an email announcement sent to students.

Before joining Columbia in 2016, Rosberg’s career spanned various high-profile roles. He served as the Senior Vice President of The Washington Post Company (now known as Graham Holdings) and was a member of the law faculty at the University of Michigan. 

During his tenure at Columbia, Rosberg managed a complex portfolio across University departments and initiatives. His key contributions included the expansion of the Manhattanville campus, guiding the University’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and spearheading sustainability efforts, which led to the establishment of the Columbia Climate School.

The end of Rosberg’s tenure also comes after the recent protests on campus, during which he was criticized for his comments on an audio recording in which he was seemingly heard discussing the student protests. Rosberg, alongside President Shafik, was also listed as a respondent in a lawsuit filed by the NYCLU and Palestine Legal on behalf of pro-Palestine protesters at Columbia.

President Shafik praised Rosberg for the “wisdom and insight” he brought to each University matter he worked on. “While so much of his work at Columbia took place behind the scenes, Gerry has been an invaluable advisor to me over the past year, to my predecessor, Lee Bollinger, over many years, and to everyone fortunate enough to have worked with him,” Shafik wrote in her announcement.

At the end of her message, Shafik invited the Columbia community to join in congratulating Rosberg on his retirement and to thank him for his “unwavering commitment to [the University’s] mission.” 

Message from Columbia President Minouche Shafik on July 1, 2024:

Dear fellow members of the Columbia community,

I write to share that after eight years of exceptional service to this University and its students, faculty, and staff, Senior Executive Vice President Gerry Rosberg is retiring. Since 2016, Gerry has managed a substantial and complex portfolio of University matters, always prioritizing coordination and collaboration across the institution.

Prior to his service at Columbia, Gerry had a remarkable career including as the Senior Vice President of The Washington Post Company (now Graham Holdings), a member of the law school faculty at the University of Michigan, and clerkships for Chief Judge David L. Bazelon of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and then-Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan, Jr.

While so much of his work at Columbia took place behind the scenes, Gerry has been an invaluable advisor to me over the past year, to my predecessor, Lee Bollinger, over many years, and to everyone fortunate enough to have worked with him. He has brought his wisdom and insight to nearly every matter of consequence facing this University—the development of our Manhattanville campus; our response to the COVID-19 pandemic; our measures to address climate change and sustainability efforts, including the founding and establishment of the Columbia Climate School. The mark he has left on this institution will be felt for years to come.

Please join me in congratulating Gerry and wishing him the very best on this milestone, and thanking him for his years of service to this University community and his unwavering commitment to its mission.

Sincerely,

Minouche Shafik

President, Columbia University in the City of New York

Gerald Rosberg via Columbia