Michael Schill announced today that he will step down from the presidency of Northwestern University, concluding a three-year tenure that saw continued ascension across the University’s three campuses, record fundraising and a steady rise in national rankings of the best universities in the country.

“Over the past three years, it has been my profound honor to serve as president of Northwestern University,” Schill said in a message to the community a short time ago. “In that time, our community has made significant progress while simultaneously facing extraordinary challenges. Together, we have made decisions that strengthened the institution and helped safeguard its future.”

He also acknowledged myriad challenges, including an ongoing federal research funding freeze and other issues.

“As I reflect on the progress we have made and what lies ahead, I believe now is the right time for new leadership to guide Northwestern into its next chapter,” Schill said in his message. “Therefore, I have decided, in consultation with the leadership of the Board of Trustees, that I will step down as President.”

The Board of Trustees will name an interim president soon. Schill will continue in his role until the interim president starts and will work until then to assure a smooth transition. He also will continue to work with the Board of Trustees on efforts to get the University’s frozen federal funding restored. After stepping down, Schill will take a sabbatical from the University, then return to teach and conduct research as a faculty member at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.

Board of Trustees Chair Peter Barris praised Schill for his leadership and devotion to Northwestern through turbulent times.

“The Board of Trustees is enormously grateful to President Schill for his leadership during a period of unparalleled challenges at Northwestern and across higher education,” said Barris. “In spite of many headwinds, President Schill and his administration worked diligently to defend Northwestern’s mission and accomplished lasting achievements that contribute robustly to Northwestern’s continued advancement among the great universities in the United States and around the globe.”

Schill was named Northwestern’s 17th president in August 2022 and took over the position that September.

Under Schill’s leadership, Northwestern climbed to No. 6 in the U.S. News & World Report national rankings, the highest ranking in the University’s history. He also oversaw the second- and third-highest fundraising years on record in Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025. During his tenure, the University raised nearly $2.5 billion overall.

Among his other accomplishments, President Schill:

• Led efforts to ensure the continuation of funding for critical research during a federal funding freeze;
• Helped establish academic and research centers, positioning the University as a leader in the sciences, including the Pat & Shirley Ryan Family Research Acceleration Fund, the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago, the Querrey Simpson Institute for Regenerative Engineering, the National Institute for Theory and Mathematics in Biology, the Northwestern Network for Collaborative Intelligence, and the NSF-Simons AI Institute for the Sky;
• Promoted free expression and engagement across difference, including the launch of the Litowitz Center for Enlightened Disagreement and the establishment of the President’s Advisory Committee on Free Expression and Institutional Speech, which submitted a Statement on Free Expression and Institutional Speech;
• Oversaw major capital projects, including the Social Science and Global Affairs Hub, the restoration of Deering Library, the new Ryan Field, the Kip and Sara Kirkpatrick Softball Stadium, the Cohen Lawn project, and the groundbreaking for a new building to unite the Kellogg School of Management’s many degree and executive programs.

“These achievements reflect the collective brilliance and devotion of many,” President Schill said in his message to the community.

“I’m forever grateful to President Schill for his service to Northwestern,” said Professor Eli Finkel, who served on the President’s Advisory Committee on Free Expression and Institutional Speech, and co-directs the Litowitz Center for Enlightened Disagreement.

“President Schill has demonstrated exceptional grace in exceptional times, and he has been a stalwart defender of the most foundational academic virtues: open inquiry, passionate engagement, and a fierce commitment to the belief that intellectually diverse communities become so much more than the sum of their parts.”

“President Schill’s support and leadership have been vital for Northwestern’s scientific initiatives, like the Giant Magellan Telescope partnership and prioritizing data science and AI research and education for the University,” said Vicky Kalogera, professor of physics and astronomy and a key scientific leader in Northwestern’s Giant Magellan Telescope initiative.

“These efforts help unlock the University’s ability to make groundbreaking advances in science and engineering, now and for years to come,” said Kalogera, who also serves as director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics, and of the newly established SkAI Institute, the NSF-Simons National AI Institute for the Sky.

Schill also guided the University through a hazing scandal that began before his tenure but came to light shortly after he arrived on campus. In response, the University instituted new rules and practices to protect student-athletes.

He also dealt with unrest on campus after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and Israel’s response. In the months after the attack, the University updated its policies to curb antisemitism on its campuses, resulting in a dramatic decrease in the number of reported incidents.

“It has been my privilege to work alongside extraordinary colleagues and to witness firsthand the resilience, generosity and strength of the Northwestern community,” Schill said. “I would like to thank my extraordinary administrative team who work tirelessly to further the interests of the University, our deans and academic leadership who promote the highest ideals of academic excellence, the faculty and staff who make Northwestern one of the greatest academic institutions in the world, and the many board members, alumni and donors who care so much about our University. And lastly, I appreciate our students, who I am confident will go on to change the world for the better.”

We’re back, baby.

It’s Florio vs. Simms. Picking every game. Straight up and against the spread.

Here they are, starting with the first game of the season, to be played tonight in Philadelphia. As the Eagles, unbeknownst to coach Nick Sirianni, hang their second banner.

And this season will get off to a bang. We disagree on seven picks, with Simms picking seven underdogs to win, straight up.

Cowboys at Eagles

Will the Cowboys rally following the Micah Parsons trade and throw a wrench in Philly’s big night? Much of it comes down to the ability of new coach Brian Schottenheimer to push their buttons in a way that allows them to outscore a better team.

Florio’s pick: Eagles 30, Cowboys 17.

Simms’s pick: Eagles 27, Cowboys 20.

Chiefs at Chargers

Is the Chiefs’ window closing? The Chargers get the first crack at commencing the process of closing it. It won’t be easy.

Florio’s pick: Chiefs 21, Chargers 17.

Simms’s pick: Chiefs 28, Chargers 24.

Buccaneers at Falcons

The Falcons swept the Bucs last year, in a couple of barnburners. The chronically underrated Bucs are well aware of that fact.

Florio’s pick: Buccaneers 30, Falcons 24.

Simms’s pick: Falcons 23, Buccaneers 20.

Bengals at Browns

The Bengals break free from their early-season struggles, against a rival who is poised to struggle all year long.

Florio’s pick: Bengals 31, Browns 17.

Simms’s pick: Bengals 27, Browns 24.

Dolphins at Colts

It will be an emotional day in Indy, with the first regular-season game following the passing of owner Jim Irsay. That could be the difference for Daniel Jones and his new team.

Florio’s pick: Colts 23, Dolphins 20.

Simms’s pick: Dolphins 24, Colts 21.

Panthers at Jaguars

It’s a battle of recently former Buccaneers’ offensive coordinators. The home team gets the edge.

Florio’s pick: Jaguars 24, Panthers 20.

Simms’s pick: Jaguars 28, Panthers 20.

Raiders at Patriots

A Raiders owner has a statue outside Gillette Stadium. The Raiders could use him on the inside of the stadium against an improving Pats team.

Florio’s pick: Patriots 23, Raiders 17.

Simms’s pick: Patriots 23, Raiders 17.

Cardinals at Saints

Both teams are a work in progress. The visitors have made more progress, so far.

Florio’s pick: Cardinals 21, Saints 17.

Simms’s pick: Cardinals 24, Saints 20.

Steelers at Jets

The Steelers didn’t make several all-in moves to lose out of the gates to an inferior roster.

Florio’s pick: Steelers 24, Jets 10.

Simms’s pick: Steelers 20, Jets 16.

Giants at Commanders

The Commanders have expectations, for the first time in a long time.

Florio’s pick: Commanders 27, Giants 17.

Simms’s pick: Giants 21, Commanders 17.

Titans at Broncos

It’s a tough draw for Cam Ward and company, because the Broncos could be forcing their way into the Super Bowl window.

Florio’s pick: Broncos 28, Titans 20.

Simms’s pick: Broncos 28, Titans 17.

49ers at Seahawks

As Christian McCaffrey goes, so go the 49ers.

Florio’s pick: 49ers 27, Seahawks 20.

Simms’s pick: Seahawks 23, 49ers 20.

Lions at Packers

The trade for Micah Parsons could give the rest of the Packers a lift. The front office sees them as a potentially elite team. They get a chance right away to prove it — and to end a three-game home losing streak to Detroit.

Florio’s pick: Packers 24, Lions 20.

Simms’s pick: Lions 28, Packers 27.

Texans at Rams

Matthew Stafford is healthy, for now. The Rams have a Super Bowl glow. The Texans, during their recent resurgence, don’t have many impressive road wins against great teams.

Florio’s pick: Rams 24, Texans 20.

Simms’s pick: Texans 24, Rams 20.

Ravens at Bills

Lamar Jackson in regular-season prime-time games is virtually unstoppable.

Florio’s pick: Ravens 30, Bills 27.

Simms’s pick: Ravens 30, Bills 21.

Vikings at Bears

Can Ben Johnson make an immediate difference for the Bears?

Florio’s pick: Vikings 24, Bears 20.

Simms’s pick: Bears 23, Vikings 20.

Hundreds more bodies have been recovered from houses in mountain villages destroyed by a major earthquake in Afghanistan early this week, pushing the death toll to more than 2,200, a Taliban government spokesperson said Thursday.

The shallow, magnitude-6.0 quake struck the mountainous and remote eastern part of the country late on Sunday, levelling villages and trapping people under rubble. Most of the casualties have been in Kunar province, where people typically live in wood and mud-brick houses along steep river valleys separated by high mountains.

About 98% of the buildings in the province were damaged or destroyed, according to an assessment issued on Thursday by the charity Islamic Relief. Aid agencies said they were sorely in need of staff and supplies to tend to the region’s survivors.

Muhammad Israel said the quake unleashed a landslide that buried his home, livestock and belongings in Kunar. “All the rocks came down from the mountain,” he said. “I barely got my children out of there … The earthquake jolts are still happening. It is impossible to live there.”

He was staying at a UN medical camp in Nurgal, one of the worst-affected districts. “The situation is also bad for us here, we don’t have shelter and are living under open skies,” he said.

Previous estimates said about 1,400 people were killed. The Taliban spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said on Thursday that the updated death toll was 2,205 and that search and rescue efforts were continuing.

“Tents have been set up for people, and the delivery of first aid and emergency supplies is ongoing,” he said.

The rough terrain is hindering relief efforts. Taliban authorities have deployed helicopters and airdropped army commandos to help survivors. Aid workers have reported walking for hours to reach villages cut off by landslides and rockfall.

Funding cuts are also having an impact on the response. The Norwegian Refugee Council said it had fewer than 450 staff in Afghanistan, whereas it had 1,100 in 2023 when the last major quake struck the country. The council had only one warehouse remaining and no emergency stock.

“We will need to purchase items once we get the funding but this will take potentially weeks and people are in need now,” said Maisam Shafiey, a communications and advocacy adviser for the council in Afghanistan. “We have only $100,000 available to support emergency response efforts. This leaves an immediate funding gap of $1.9m.”

Dr Shamshair Khan, who was tending to the injured at the UN camp in Nurgal, said his own condition had deteriorated after seeing the suffering of others. “Neither these medicines are enough nor these services,” he said. “These people need more medicine and tents. They need food and clean drinking water. They need more aid. These people are in great pain.”

Before the earthquake, Afghanistan was already struggling with drought, a weak economy and the recent return of 2 million Afghans from neighbouring countries.