"Nemat Talaat Shafik, Baroness Shafik, also known as Minouche Shafik, is a highly accomplished British-American economist. She holds the distinction of being the 20th president of Columbia University, a position she held from July 2023 to August 2024. Prior to her tenure at Columbia, she served as the president and vice chancellor of the London School of Economics from 2017 to 2023. Her career reflects a remarkable blend of academic leadership and economic expertise."
August 1962: Nemat Talaat Shafik is born
Minouche Shafik was born Nemat Talaat Shafik on August 1962.
1983: Graduates from University of Massachusetts Amherst
Minouche Shafik graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, with a major in economics and politics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1983.
1986: Receives Master's Degree in Economics
Minouche Shafik receives a Master of Science degree in economics from the London School of Economics in 1986.
1989: Receives Doctorate of Philosophy in Economics
Minouche Shafik earned her Doctorate of Philosophy in economics from the University of Oxford in 1989.
1989: Becomes Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University
Minouche Shafik starts as an adjunct professor in the Economics Department at Georgetown University in 1989.
1990: Marriage to Mohamed El-Erian
While working for the World Bank, Minouche Shafik married economist Mohamed El-Erian, who was working for the International Monetary Fund, in 1990.
1994: Ends Adjunct Professor Role at Georgetown University
Minouche Shafik concluded her role as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University in 1994.
1996: Visiting Associate Professor at Wharton
Minouche Shafik briefly served as a visiting associate professor at the Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania in the Spring of 1996.
1998: Authored and Edited Books Published
Minouche Shafik published "Prospects for the Middle East and North African Economies: from Boom to Bust and Back?" and edited "Economic Challenges Facing Middle Eastern and North African Countries" in 1998.
2002: Marriage to Raffael Jovine
In 2002, Minouche Shafik married her second husband, scientist Raffael Jovine.
2008: Appointed Permanent Secretary of DFID
Minouche Shafik was appointed to the position of Permanent Secretary at DFID in 2008, where she managed a budget of £38 Billion.
2008: Appointed Permanent Secretary of DFID
Minouche Shafik was appointed as the UK's Department for International Development's Permanent Secretary in 2008.
2009: GG2 Woman of the Year
Minouche Shafik was named "GG2 Woman of the Year" in 2009.
April 2011: Becomes IMF Deputy Managing Director
Minouche Shafik became the IMF Deputy Managing Director in April 2011.
2011: Ends Term as Permanent Secretary at DFID
Minouche Shafik finished her term as the UK's Department for International Development's Permanent Secretary in 2011.
2011: Leaves Position as Permanent Secretary for DFID
Minouche Shafik leaves her position as Permanent Secretary for DFID in 2011.
March 2014: Ends Term as IMF Deputy Managing Director
Minouche Shafik stepped down from her role as IMF Deputy Managing Director in March 2014.
2014: End of Term Managing DFID Budget
The budget of £38 Billion that Minouche Shafik had overseen for DFID since 2008 came to an end in 2014.
2015: Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women
In 2015, Minouche Shafik was named as one of Forbes 100 most powerful women.
September 2016: Announced as Director of the London School of Economics
On September 2016, Minouche Shafik was named as the next Director of the London School of Economics, replacing Craig Calhoun.
2016: Start of Academic Casualisation Increase at LSE
Starting in 2016, the London School of Economics sees an increase in the use of fixed-term contracts for academics.
September 2017: Starts Position as Director of the London School of Economics
Minouche Shafik assumed her new role as the Director of the London School of Economics on September 2017.
2017: Becomes President of the London School of Economics
Minouche Shafik became the president and vice chancellor of the London School of Economics in 2017.
2017: Academic Casualisation Continues to Increase at LSE
The trend of increasing fixed-term contracts for academics continues at the London School of Economics into 2017.
2019: 100 Women in Finance European Industry Leaders Award
Minouche Shafik received the 100 Women in Finance European Industry Leaders Award in 2019.
October 2020: Baroness Shafik
Minouche Shafik was gazetted as Baroness Shafik, of Camden in the London Borough of Camden and of Alexandria in the Arab Republic of Egypt, in October 2020. This honor was part of the 2020 Political Honours. She was also introduced to the House of Lords in October 2020.
2020: Becomes Member of the House of Lords
Minouche Shafik becomes a life peer in the House of Lords in 2020.
January 2021: Maiden Speech in the House of Lords
Minouche Shafik, sitting as a crossbencher, made her maiden speech in the House of Lords on January 28, 2021.
2021: LSE Permanent Staff Data Compared to UK Universities
Data from the Higher Education Statistical Agency shows that the number of permanent staff grew during the period from 2016-2021 in many other UK universities, contrasting with the London School of Economics.
2021: Honorary Fellow of the British Academy and Honorary Doctorate
In 2021, Minouche Shafik was elected as an honorary fellow of the British Academy. She was also awarded an honorary doctorate from Utrecht University in 2021.
2021: Joins Pandemic Preparedness Partnership
In 2021, Minouche Shafik was selected to join the Pandemic Preparedness Partnership (PPP), an expert group led by Patrick Vallance.
2021: Publishes "What We Owe Each Other: A New Social Contract for a Better Society"
Minouche Shafik authors the book, "What We Owe Each Other: A New Social Contract for a Better Society", which was published in 2021.
January 2022: Becomes Trustee of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Minouche Shafik was appointed as a trustee for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in January 2022.
2022: LSE Reaches 59 Percent Fixed-Term Contracts for Academics
By 2022, the number of academics on fixed-term contracts at the London School of Economics had reached 59 percent, up from 55 percent in 2016-2017.
January 2023: Appointed President of Columbia University
Columbia University's board of trustees announced Minouche Shafik's appointment as president of the university on January 2023.
July 2023: Becomes President of Columbia University
Minouche Shafik officially assumed the role of president at Columbia University in July 2023.
July 2023: LSE Records Lowest Student-to-permanent Staff Ratio
By July 2023, the student-to-permanent staff ratio at LSE had decreased, making it the lowest among similar universities in the UK, after Minouche Shafik's time as director.
July 2023: Becomes President of Columbia University
Minouche Shafik became the 20th president of Columbia University on July 2023.
July 2023: Leave of Absence from the House of Lords
In July 2023, Minouche Shafik took a leave of absence from the House of Lords.
October 2023: Issues Statement on Speech Restrictions
In October 2023, following the intensification of the Israel-Hamas conflict and a legal dispute involving an Israeli student, Shafik released a statement saying that any speech deemed unlawful or in violation of university regulations would not be tolerated.
October 2023: Inauguration as Columbia University President
The inauguration ceremony for Minouche Shafik as president of Columbia University took place on October 2023.
November 2023: Declines Invitation to US Congress Hearing
Minouche Shafik was invited to, but ultimately chose not to attend, the 2023 United States Congress hearing on antisemitism, citing scheduling conflicts, in November 2023.
April 2024: NYPD Called to Clear Encampment, Arrests Made, and Classes Moved Online
In April 2024, Minouche Shafik requested the NYPD to remove an encampment set up by protestors at Columbia University, resulting in over 100 student arrests on April 22nd, after which in-person classes were suspended, and the university transitioned to a hybrid learning model.
April 2024: Negotiations with Student Protesters Stall; Refusal to Divest from Israel; Commencement Cancelled
Minouche Shafik announced in April 2024 that talks with student protesters had broken down and that the university would not be divesting from Israel. After a second request for NYPD intervention led to more arrests, and the scheduled commencement was subsequently canceled, with degrees conferred via email.
April 2024: Testifies Before US House on Antisemitism
On April 2024, Minouche Shafik gave testimony to the United States House Committee on Education & the Workforce about antisemitism at Columbia University.
April 2024: Testifies at US Congress Hearing
On April 2024, Minouche Shafik, alongside David Greenwald and Claire Shipman, co-chairs of the Trustees of Columbia University, presented testimony before the United States House Committee on Education & the Workforce.
August 2024: Resigns from Columbia University
After facing pressure from various groups including faculty and lawmakers, Minouche Shafik resigns from her position as President of Columbia University in August 2024.
August 2024: Resigns from Columbia University
Minouche Shafik resigned from her position as President of Columbia University on August 2024.
August 2024: Resigns from Columbia University Presidency
Minouche Shafik stepped down from her position as president of Columbia University on August 14, 2024.