UPenn names interim president following Liz Magill's resignation

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UPenn student slams former president over 'failed leadership'

University of Pennsylvania student Eyal Yakoby joins 'America's Newsroom' to discuss former president Liz Magill's resignation and her failure to acknowledge wrongdoing.

The University of Pennsylvania has announced a new interim president on Tuesday, after Liz Magill resigned on Saturday.

Dr.  J. Larry Jameson will serve as the interim president of the university, UPenn announced Tuesday. Previously, Jameson was dean of the university's medical school. 

Magill resigned following criticism stemming from her appearance at a congressional hearing, where she failed to say if calls for the genocide of Jews would violate university policy.

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The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia (Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Images/File)

"I write to share that J. Larry Jameson, MD, Ph.D., has graciously agreed to serve as Interim President of the University of Pennsylvania, effective immediately. Dr. Jameson has served as Executive Vice President of the University of Pennsylvania for the Health System and dean of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine, which together comprise Penn Medicine, since 2011," Interim Board of Trustees Chair Julie Beren Platt wrote in a statement Tuesday. "Jonathan A. Epstein, MD, executive vice dean and chief scientific officer of the Perelman School of Medicine and senior vice president and chief scientific officer of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, will step in as Interim Executive Vice President for the Health System and dean of the Perelman School of Medicine.

"Penn is fortunate to have the benefit of Dr. Jameson’s experience and leadership during this time of transition. A consummate University citizen and the longest serving current dean, Dr. Jameson is a collaborative, innovative, and visionary leader with extensive engagement with each of Penn’s 12 schools," she added.

UPENN PRESIDENT LIZ MAGILL STEPS DOWN AFTER CONTROVERSIAL TESTIMONY ON ANTISEMITISM

Liz Magill, president of the University of Pennsylvania, listens during a House Education and the Workforce Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., last week.  (Haiyun Jiang/Bloomberg via Getty Images/File)

Magill resigned following a congressional hearing on Dec. 5, where she gave a non-answer to New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik's question asking if, "calling for the genocide of Jews violate[s] Penn’s rules or code of conduct? Yes or no?"

"If the speech turns into conduct, it can be harassment, yes," Magill responded, later adding, "It is a context-dependent decision."

"This is unacceptable. Ms. Magill, I’m gonna give you one more opportunity for the world to see your answer. Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate Penn’s code of conduct when it comes to bullying and harassment? Yes or no?" Stefanik then asked.

STEFANIK APPLAUDS RESIGNATION OF UPENN PRESIDENT LIZ MAGILL: 'ONE DOWN. TWO TO GO'

University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill testifies before the House Education and Workforce Committee at the Rayburn House Office Building last week in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/File)

Magill would later walk back her comments in a video posted to X on Dec. 5.

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"There was a moment during yesterday's congressional hearing on antisemitism when I was asked if a call for the genocide of Jewish people on our campus would violate our policies. In that moment, I was focused on our university's long-standing policies aligned with the U.S. Constitution, which says that speech alone is not punishable," Magill said. "I was not focused on, but I should have been, on the irrefutable fact that a call for genocide of Jewish people is a call for some of the most terrible violence human beings can perpetrate."

Fox News' CB Cotton contributed to this report.