Mnookin and Syverud will both lead universities that were targeted by U.S. President Donald Trump over the past year and have experienced high leadership turnover. "People are looking for the kinds of skill sets that lawyers bring to the table." Syverud and Penalver told Reuters this week that legal training is always beneficial in leadership roles, and especially in the current political landscape. "The rules and practices of the federal government have changed quite a bit in a year," Syverud said. "That's more challenging for people who aren't trained in law because you struggle to even know where you stand."

Source: Economic Times January 30, 2026 21:17 UTC