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Henry S. Bienen: ‘The right guy at the right time’

Served as stabilizing force for Northwestern
June 11, 2026 | By Hilary Hurd Anyaso
henry s. bienen
For both of his Northwestern presidencies, Henry S. Bienen’s goal has always been to leave Northwestern University well-positioned for the next leader and campus community. Photo by Shane Collins

When President Emeritus Henry S. Bienen returned to Northwestern last fall to serve as interim president, there was wide agreement that he was uniquely suited for the role.

Having served as the University’s president from 1995-2009, Bienen “has a deep knowledge of Northwestern and shares our love and passion for the institution,” said Board Chair Peter Barris in a message to the Northwestern community last September.

Bienen made an immediate impact. After former President Michael Schill stepped down, Bienen quickly became one of the chief architects of an agreement to lift the federal research funding freeze, which was announced in late November. He named the next provost, Erik Luijten. And he provided stability as the University prepared for a transition to the next president. Mung Chiang, who will serve as the University’s 18th president, and Luijten will start their new roles July 1.

“Having already served with distinction as president for 14 years, Henry brought a knowledge of the institution — its people, its values and its promise — as few others could,” Barris said. “He stepped forward with characteristic steadiness and decisiveness, and he did it with his own inimitable flair. What a gift to us.”

In appreciation of Bienen’s service, members of the Board of Trustees recently contributed nearly $7 million to Northwestern’s Henry and Leigh Bienen Music Scholarship Fund, a permanently endowed fund established in 2012 by the Bienens, along with the support of additional donors. The fund provides merit-based scholarships to undergraduate students in the Bienen School of Music, with a preference for those pursuing music performance. This additional support will increase by roughly 15 percent the number of undergraduate students in the Bienen School receiving scholarship aid, reducing financial barriers to participation in the conservatory experience.

Slide 1: President Bienen said longtime friend and Northwestern life trustee Patrick Ryan often reminds him to “take the long view.”
Slide 2: Board chair Peter Barris said Bienen “brought a knowledge of the institution — its people, its values and its promise — as few others could.”
Slide 3: President Bienen with Northwestern alum and former “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert ’86, ’11 H
Slide 4: Leigh Bienen (foreground) said she strongly supported President Bienen’s return to the presidency. “It was clear they really needed him, and he could make a difference.”
Slide 5: President Bienen attends press event for Joel Mokyr’s Nobel Prize win for Economic Sciences in October 2025.

From the day he was announced as interim president, Bienen made it clear his first priority was to restore hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research funding, which had been frozen in April 2025, placing stress on the University’s research and operations.

During January’s State of the University addresses, Bienen acknowledged that although the deal was not “perfect,” striking the November agreement was key to his interim tenure and to preventing ongoing litigation resulting in years of uncertainty.

“I thought it was important to do this deal as long as we could preserve our autonomy — who we hire, who we fire, who admit, what we teach, how we go about our crucial business.”

In addition to ensuring federal research funds were restored, Bienen said it was also important for him to appoint the successor to Provost Kathleen Hagerty, who announced in October that she would step down at the end of the academic year after serving six years in the role. Bienen created an interdisciplinary committee chaired by Kellogg Dean Francesca Cornelli to lead the search.

In January, Bienen announced Luijten, associate dean for Research and Doctoral Education and professor of Materials Science and Engineering in Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering, as the University’s next provost.

Bienen also has been a tireless fundraiser, an advocate for transparency and communication with stakeholders across the University, and a calming presence during a period of leadership transition.

Life Trustee Patrick Ryan said he was thrilled when Bienen answered the call to be interim president when Northwestern needed him the most, calling Bienen “the right guy at the right time.”

Ryan, chairman and CEO of Ryan Specialty Group Holdings, Inc., thanked Bienen for his service, adding that he did a “fantastic job.”

‘He could make a difference’

Bienen’s wife, Leigh, senior lecturer emerita at Northwestern’s Pritzker School of Law, said she strongly supported his return to the presidency.

“It was clear they really needed him, and he could make a difference. Which he has,” she said.

As Bienen again prepares to pass the baton to the University’s next leader. He said he’ll stay as involved with Northwestern as the new president wants.

In the meantime, the Bienens are looking forward to “going West” to see their children and catching up with their grandchildren. Bienen said he’ll resume his “old life” — going to the theater and musical productions, attending Northwestern athletic events and serving on various boards.

As he has navigated several leadership roles over the years, he said the best advice has come from his wife: “Don’t get too high or too low. Keep working.” The sentiment has been echoed by Ryan, who always reminds him to “take the long view.”

For both of his Northwestern presidencies, Bienen’s goal has always been to leave the University well-positioned for the next leader and University community.

“I hope that over the years Northwestern’s stature has increased,” Bienen said recently. “I believe so, and I take satisfaction in that. Plus, I’ve made so many close friends among faculty, trustees, staff and students.”
In June 1996, Northwestern welcomed Princess Diana during her three-day Chicago visit to raise money for cancer research. President Bienen escorted the Princess of Wales at a black-tie fundraising gala at the Field Museum of Natural History. Northwestern archival photo

Tributes from the University community

“When he [Henry Bienen] arrived, Northwestern was not yet viewed among the very top institutions in the AAU (Association of American Universities), but that has changed. Henry elevated research, partnering with then-Provost Larry Dumas, to raise tenure standards. He invited faculty to come forward with innovative ideas, which they did, leading to investments in nanoscience, chemistry, economics and history, as well as building new interdisciplinary centers that defined and advanced Northwestern.”

- Marilyn McCoy
Former vice president for administration and planning at Northwestern

“Your contributions to Northwestern have been extraordinary. You and Leigh have shepherded us through the transition from good to great and have really left an incredible mark on the institution, set us on a great path and I think completely transformed the way we do science, engineering and medicine at Northwestern. You’ve been a great partner in doing this and helping the International Institute for Nanotechnology hire some of the most successful people at Northwestern and build some of the most successful programs. We are incredibly indebted to you for all of your hard work, your efforts, your vision and your friendship.”

- Chad Mirkin
George B. Rathmann Professor of Chemistry and director of the International Institute for Nanotechnology

“Knowing that he will always make time for me, despite his endless lists of tasks and demanding schedule, is something that I will always be grateful for. It’s a quality that runs through everything he does — the capacity to be there for whoever needs him in whatever role the moment may require.”

- Seychelle Marks-Bienen ’28
Granddaughter

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