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Claudine Gay, Harvard University's first Black president, has resigned just six months into her tenure.
On Tuesday (January 2), Gay announced that she would be stepping down as president in a letter to the school community, per ABC News.
"It is with a heavy heart but a deep love for Harvard that I write to share that I will be stepping down as president," Gay wrote. "This is not a decision I came to easily. Indeed, it has been difficult beyond words because I have looked forward to working with so many of you to advance the commitment to academic excellence that has propelled this great university across centuries."
"But, after consultation with members of the Corporation, it has become clear that it is in the best interests of Harvard for me to resign so that our community can navigate this moment of extraordinary challenge with a focus on the institution rather than any individual," she continued.
The resignation comes amid backlash Gay is facing over her testimony at a congressional hearing about antisemitism on college campuses in the wake of the Hamas attack on Israel.
During the hearing, New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik asked Gay: "Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate Harvard's rules on bullying and harassment?"
Gay replied: "The rules around bullying and harassment are quite specific and if the context in which that language is used amounts to bullying and harassment, then we take -- we take action against it."
After facing criticism over the response, Gay released a statement elaborating on her stance.
"There are some who have confused a right to free expression with the idea that Harvard will condone calls for violence against Jewish students," Gay said. "Calls for violence or genocide against the Jewish community, or any religious or ethnic group are vile, they have no place at Harvard."
Following the congressional hearing, conservative activists also accused Gay of plagiarizing parts of her 1997 doctoral dissertation. An independent review of Gay's work later found that were a few instances of "inadequate citation" but "no violation of Harvard's standards of research misconduct," Harvard Corporation said in a statement.
Harvard Corporation also addressed Gay's resignation in a statement on Tuesday. "First and foremost, we thank President Gay for her deep and unwavering commitment to Harvard and to the pursuit of academic excellence. ... She has devoted her career to an institution whose ideals and priorities she has worked tirelessly to advance, and we are grateful for the extraordinary contributions she has made -- and will continue to make -- as a leader, a teacher, a scholar, a mentor, and an inspiration to many."
Gay will remain a faculty member at Harvard, Harvard Corporation said.
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