News Summary
Liz Magill, former President of the University of Pennsylvania, has been appointed as the new Executive Vice President and Dean of Georgetown University’s Law Center. Her appointment follows her resignation from Penn amid backlash over her congressional testimony regarding antisemitism. Starting on August 1, Magill will succeed Interim Dean Joshua Teitelbaum, taking on the challenges and opportunities within the unique context of Georgetown Law’s Catholic and Jesuit identity.
Washington D.C.
Liz Magill, the former President of the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), who resigned from her position following a controversial congressional hearing on antisemitism, has been named the new executive vice president and dean of Georgetown University’s Law Center. The announcement was made on February 13, 2026, with her term set to begin on August 1, 2026. This appointment comes nearly three years after her departure from Penn amid significant backlash regarding her testimony before a U.S. House committee.
Magill will succeed Interim Executive Vice President and Dean Joshua Teitelbaum, who has led Georgetown Law for the past year after former Dean William Treanor stepped down in June 2025. Interim University President Robert M. Groves highlighted Magill’s deep understanding of the challenges in legal higher education and the unique opportunities at Georgetown Law, an institution with a Catholic and Jesuit identity.
Background of Resignation
Magill resigned as Penn’s president on December 9, 2023, after facing widespread criticism for her testimony before a U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce on December 5, 2023. During the hearing, she was questioned by Representative Elise Stefanik about whether calls for the genocide of Jews would violate the university’s code of conduct. Magill’s response, that it would be “context-dependent” and could be harassment “if the speech turns into conduct,” drew significant bipartisan condemnation.
Following her testimony, Magill faced immense pressure, including calls for her resignation from donors and alumni, and a threatened withdrawal of a $100 million gift from billionaire Ross Stevens. Magill later clarified her remarks in a video statement, acknowledging that her testimony left people distressed and conveyed a “lack of compassion and care and good sense.” She also stated that a call for the genocide of Jewish people is a call for “some of the most terrible violence human beings can perpetrate.” Her resignation coincided with that of Scott L. Bok, then-chair of Penn’s board of trustees.
Context of Campus Antisemitism Nationwide
The controversy surrounding Magill’s testimony occurred within a broader national context of heightened concerns about antisemitism on college campuses. Universities across the United States have been accused of failing to adequately protect Jewish students amidst rising fears of antisemitism, particularly following events since October 7, 2023. This period has also seen a spike in Islamophobia in the U.S.
Reports indicate a significant number of antisemitic incidents on campuses. Hillel International tracked 2,334 antisemitic incidents during the 2024-2025 academic year, marking the highest number since tracking began in 2019. As of February 10, 2026, 1,077 antisemitic incidents have been tracked for the 2025-2026 academic year. Surveys show that 35% of Jewish college students in 2024 reported experiencing antisemitism, and 68% of parents of Jewish high school students cited reports of antisemitism as a factor in college selection. More recent data from February 10, 2026, indicates that approximately 42% of American Jewish college students reported experiencing antisemitism during their time in school.
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is investigating antisemitism on American college and university campuses, with a public briefing scheduled for February 19, 2026. This bipartisan investigation will examine responses from higher education institutions and the federal government to allegations of antisemitism since October 7, 2023. Despite these challenges, Jewish students continue to engage in campus programming, with some Hillel organizations reporting record engagement levels.
Magill’s Academic and Administrative History
Before her presidency at Penn, Magill held several prominent academic and administrative roles. She served as the dean of Stanford Law School for seven years, from 2012 to 2019, and was the first female executive vice president and provost of the University of Virginia from 2019 to 2022. An accomplished legal scholar in constitutional and administrative law, Magill also clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She continues to serve as a tenured faculty member at Penn Carey Law.
FAQ
Q: Who is Liz Magill?
A: Liz Magill is an American legal scholar who previously served as the President of the University of Pennsylvania and has now been named the new executive vice president and dean of Georgetown University’s Law Center.
Q: When was Liz Magill appointed to Georgetown Law?
A: Liz Magill was named the new executive vice president and dean of Georgetown University’s Law Center on February 13, 2026.
Q: When will Liz Magill’s term at Georgetown Law begin?
A: Liz Magill’s term as the executive vice president and dean of Georgetown University’s Law Center is set to begin on August 1, 2026.
Q: Why did Liz Magill resign from the University of Pennsylvania?
A: Liz Magill resigned as President of the University of Pennsylvania on December 9, 2023, after facing widespread criticism for her testimony before a U.S. House committee regarding antisemitism on college campuses, specifically her response to questions about calls for the genocide of Jews.
Q: What was the main controversy surrounding Liz Magill’s congressional testimony?
A: The main controversy stemmed from Liz Magill’s response during a congressional hearing where she stated that whether calls for the genocide of Jews would violate university policy was “context-dependent” and could be harassment “if the speech turns into conduct.”
Q: What is the current situation regarding antisemitism on college campuses Nationwide?
A: Antisemitism on college campuses Nationwide remains a significant concern, with Hillel International tracking 1,077 antisemitic incidents for the 2025-2026 academic year as of February 10, 2026, and 2,334 incidents in the 2024-2025 academic year. A U.S. Commission on Civil Rights investigation is underway, with a public briefing scheduled for February 19, 2026.
Key Features of Liz Magill’s Appointment and Related Context
| Feature | Detail | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| New Role | Executive Vice President and Dean of Georgetown University’s Law Center | Institution-level |
| Appointment Date | February 13, 2026 | Event-specific |
| Start Date | August 1, 2026 | Event-specific |
| Previous Role | President of the University of Pennsylvania | Institution-level |
| Resignation Date from Penn | December 9, 2023 | Event-specific |
| Reason for Resignation | Controversial testimony at a U.S. House hearing on antisemitism | Event-specific |
| Campus Antisemitism Concerns | Nationwide increase in antisemitic incidents on college campuses | Nationwide |
| Hillel International Antisemitic Incidents (2024-2025) | 2,334 incidents tracked | Nationwide |
| U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Briefing | February 19, 2026, on antisemitism on college campuses | Nationwide |
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Liz Magill Appointed New Dean of Georgetown Law School
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