By Chenoa Colaco
LSE has appointed Larry Kramer as its upcoming President and Vice Chancellor; he will formally begin his tenure in April 2024.
Kramer’s new role comes after Minouche Shafik’s departure from LSE to become President of Columbia University.
Currently, he retains his role as President of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation which he will step down from at the end of the year. At the $13 billion foundation, he advanced long-term support for environmental protection, performing arts, racial justice, cyber security, and women’s reproductive rights.
In February 2023, Kramer received public criticism for providing a hefty $500,000 to the $250 million sum of fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried’s release bond, after courts released documents exposing his role as a significant benefactor. On 2 November, Bankman-Fried was found guilty of fraud after syphoning client funds for his personal political donations.
It is currently unclear what relationship Kramer holds with Bankman-Fried.
Kramer also presently serves as board chair of iCivics and is a director on several boards including the Silicon Valley Community Foundation and the ClimateWorks Foundation.
Within academia, Kramer has become a distinguished scholar in constitutional law and history. He brags a wide scope of positions including professorships at University of Chicago Law School and Michigan Law School. He was also Dean and Professor of Law at Stanford Law School from 2004 to 2012.
“He brings a wealth of experience and expertise to lead the school in advancing our mission to know the causes of things for the betterment of society”.
Larry Kramer has commented on his upcoming appointment to LSE’s Executive Office.
“To say I am thrilled at the opportunity to lead LSE is an understatement.
“The world needs institutions like LSE to help produce the research, scholars and leaders to address the challenges our world faces.
“LSE has a long, proud, and well-deserved record of intellectual excellence and global reach, and it is the honour of a lifetime to work with and for the LSE community to further the school’s founding mission.”
Eric Neumayer, LSE’s pro vice-chancellor (planning and resources), will remain interim vice-chancellor until Professor Kramer’s arrival.
