President-elect Rebecca M. Blank announced today, July 11, that she has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and will be unable to fulfill her role as the 17th president of Northwestern University.
She plans to spend the coming weeks and months focusing on her health and family.
"I do not have the words to express to you how disappointed and sad I am to be telling you this. I was excited to be joining you at Northwestern, a world-class institution that is near and dear to my heart," Blank wrote in a message to the Northwestern community. "As heartbreaking as this is for me, I take solace in knowing Northwestern is in great hands. Although I have not been on campus full-time, I have had the opportunity to talk with many campus leaders over the past eight months. It is clear that NU has tremendous leadership, outstanding faculty and staff, and a wonderful group of students."
Blank concluded her eight-year tenure as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in May. She and her husband will return to the Madison area for her cancer treatment.
Blank was selected in October 2021 to succeed President Morton Schapiro following an extensive search process led by Northwestern's Board of Trustees.
In a letter to the NU community, J. Landis Martin, Board of Trustees chair, said the Board has asked Schapiro to remain in his role as president until a successor is named. Peter Barris, who led the initial search committee and will become chair of the Northwestern Board of Trustees
