The new Stanford president lays out his goals under strict scrutiny

As he begins his first year as president of Stanford University, Jonathan Levin prepares for both intense scrutiny and profound discoveries.

Tensions have risen on campus over the past year over the war between Israel and Hamas, a conflict that led to an extended encampment at White Plaza and vandalism of academic buildings, as well as a brief occupation of the office of his immediate predecessor, Richard Saller. There were reports of rising Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, as well as debates over Stanford's admissions policies, faculty composition and endowment.

“We are criticized for not doing enough to address societal challenges and for doing too much,” Levin said Friday during his inauguration and investiture ceremony. “We are criticized for suppressing speech and allowing it.”

Speaking to a receptive and enthusiastic crowd of Stanford alumni, politicians and students at Frost Amphitheater, Levin acknowledged these challenges while reaffirming his mission to keep Stanford at the forefront of world-class innovation and education.

“To be clear, we want Stanford students and faculty to engage with the world,” Levin said. “We expect them to engage with social and political issues. We hope they will influence the direction of society, provide public services and address the pressing challenges of our time.

“Yet the purpose of the university is not political action or social justice. It’s about creating an environment where learning thrives.”

With his appointment, Levin became the 13th president in Stanford University history. He succeeds Richard Saller, who became interim president last year after controversial neuroscientist Marc Tissier-Lavigne resigned after an independent review found deficiencies in his research.

The university's Board of Trustees, led by Jerry Yang, announced Levin's appointment in April. He officially took up his new position on August 1st. In his opening remarks, Yang described Levin as “a cardinal through and through” and noted that he was the first Stanford graduate to become president since Wallace Sterling in 1949.

Born in New Haven, Levin earned a bachelor's degree in English and mathematics from Stanford, a master's degree in economics from Oxford University, and a doctorate in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 2000, he joined the economics department at Stanford University and later served as department chair. In 2016, he was named dean of the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

In his formal address, Levin described his three goals for the university: to foster an open-minded climate, to remain at the forefront of discovery and to make its educational offerings accessible to a broader population.

In describing the first pursuit, Levin quoted the Greek philosopher Socrates, who he said was known to ask questions easily, even if he didn't know all the answers.

“The point was that college is about asking questions and realizing that no matter how much you know, there is always more to discover,” Levin said. “This is, of course, at odds with today’s world, where it often seems as if everyone on the internet thinks they have the answers and feels compelled to share them.

“Our campus must be a place where we can ask each other questions, experiment with ideas and share our own thoughts.”

He also said he wanted to ensure Stanford remained ambitious in “exploring the frontiers of knowledge.” He predicted that over the next decade everyone would be amazed at the breakthroughs made in many areas.

“What we know is that if you could choose one place on Earth to be during a dramatic acceleration of discovery, this would be it,” Levin said. “Stanford will be the leading university advancing research and teaching and deepening our understanding of the impact and potential of these technologies.”

He acknowledged that his third wish might seem strange to some at a time when nationalism and bigotry are on the rise. But he argued that in the coming years, universities should “find new and creative ways to open a Stanford education to more students.”

“In fact, it is precisely when there are political divisions that we can make our greatest contribution through the openness of universities, because in the best case scenario we are one of the few institutions that can overcome political differences and enable and promote the exchange of people with ideas. “Mutual understanding,” Levin said.

Earlier this month, the Stanford administration responded to last year's tensions by adopting new rules for campus protests. These include a ban on overnight camps and policies that expressly prohibit disruptions to university events, courses and ceremonies. But despite those bans, Levin on Friday praised the university's culture of “openness and exploration.” He said he recently tried to count the value of companies founded by Stanford graduates and quickly came up with $7 trillion.

“We are open to people all over the world from all different backgrounds,” Levin said.