IRC Picks George Rupp to Succeed Reynold Levy as CEO

The IRC has selected George Rupp to succeed the IRC’s current president, Reynold Levy, who is to leave the post this summer.

Dr. Rupp is currently president of Columbia University in New York and has also served as president of Rice University in Houston and dean of the Harvard Divinity School. Last year, he advised Columbia that he would be stepping down in June after nine years in office. Levy told the IRC board of directors last October that he intended to leave the agency this summer to pursue other interests.

In a statement, the IRC board’s co-chairmen, Winston Lord and James Strickler, said the board was deeply impressed by Rupp’s record of achievement, leadership ability, humanitarian instincts and international outlook. “We are going from strength to strength,” they said in their announcement to the IRC’s staff. “The IRC and the refugee cause are fortunate to welcome a leader with George Rupp’s vision, skills and dedication to humanitarian ideals.”