Dr. Katrina Armstrong Randall ’82 Named Interim President of Columbia University

Dr. Katrina Armstrong Randall ’82 was named the Interim President of Columbia University by the board of trustees on Wednesday, August 14, after the resignation of Minouche Shafik.

Columbia University released a statement from Katrina stating that she was “deeply honored” and “excited and humbled by the opportunity.” You may read the entirety of her statement here. 

Since 2022, Katrina has led Columbia University’s medical campus as chief executive officer of the Columbia University Medical Center. She is also the dean of the faculties of health sciences and the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, the executive vice president for health and biomedical sciences, and the Harold and Margaret Hatch professor in the faculty of medicine. 

Katrina was the first woman to lead Columbia’s medical school and center. Before joining Columbia, she was also the first woman physician-in-chief at Massachusetts General Hospital, the Jackson professor of clinical medicine at Harvard Medical School, and the professor of epidemiology at the T.H. Chan School of Public Health. 

After graduating from Indian Springs in 1982, Katrina received her bachelor’s degree in architecture from Yale University, a doctor of medicine from Johns Hopkins University, and a master’s degree in clinical epidemiology from the University of Pennsylvania, where she began her academic career. She served in numerous positions at Penn, including physician-scientist fellow, professor, chief of general internal medicine, associate director of the Abramson Cancer Center, co-director of the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, and director of research at the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics. 

Katrina was named Indian Springs School’s Outstanding Alum of the Year in 2022. During the ceremony, Katrina said to an audience of students, fellow alums, and faculty members, “I couldn’t be more honored to receive this award. I want you to know my commitment to each of you. If there’s a way I can help, I am forever a part of your connections and community.” Earlier this year, Katrina hosted a gathering of young alums who live or attend universities in the New York area, some of whom are interested in attending medical school.  

READ MORE: 

Click here to read the announcement from Columbia University. 

Click here to read a message from Katrina. 

Click here to watch the OAY award ceremony from 2022.