Controversial Yale Law School Dean Considered as Potential President
Heather Gerken, the dean of Yale Law School, is reportedly the frontrunner to become the next president of the prestigious Ivy League School. Despite facing a series of scandals since taking over as dean in 2018, Gerken is being considered by a presidential research committee. One of the controversies involved Gerken advising Jewish students who were concerned about a spike in antisemitism on campus to seek counseling. This response drew criticism from students who believe her handling of campus politics has been abysmal.
The potential appointment of Gerken comes at a time when there is growing concern over the rise of antisemitism on college campuses. This issue has already led to the resignation of two high-profile university presidents. The current president of Yale, Peter Salovey, is stepping down, creating an opportunity for Gerken to take over.
Gerken’s tenure as dean has been marked by various controversies. In 2021, she faced calls to step down after coming down hard on a Native American student who used the term “trap house” in a party invitation. Gerken claimed the term had racial connotations and forced the student to sign an apology letter drafted by school officials.
Despite her efforts to promote diversity and inclusion at Yale, Gerken faced criticism for not taking action when a conservative speaker was shouted down on campus. She also publicly feuded with law school professor Amy Chua, resulting in federal judges refusing to accept clerks from the law school.
Last year, Jewish students urged the law school to take a stronger stand against antisemitism following an attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists. Gerken’s response was seen as inadequate, as she only acknowledged the challenging times and advised students to seek counseling.
While Gerken has faced controversy during her time as dean, she has garnered support from wealthy alumni who are backing her push for the presidency. The official list of candidates for the position has not been made public, but sources suggest that Tamar Szabo Gendler, the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, is also being considered. Neither Gerken nor the Yale presidential search committee have commented on the matter.
