New York – Harvard President Claudine Gay announced on Tuesday that she will be stepping down from her position amidst a wave of controversy at the university. Gay, the first Black president in Harvard’s nearly 400-year history and the second woman to hold the position, stated that her decision to resign was made in consultation with members of the Corporation, in the best interests of the institution.

“I will be stepping down as president… it is in the best interests of Harvard for me to resign so that our community can navigate this moment of extraordinary challenge with a focus on the institution rather than any individual,” Gay wrote in a letter to the Harvard community.

The decision to resign comes just six months into her presidency, a tenure which Gay acknowledged as being exceptionally short. She also mentioned the importance of striving to find common humanity, amidst the challenges she faced during her presidency.

Gay’s resignation comes in the wake of criticism over her responses at a congressional hearing, as well as an ongoing plagiarism scandal. Alan M. Garber, the current provost and chief academic officer at Harvard, will serve as interim president until a permanent replacement is found.

The search for a new president will “begin in due course,” according to the Harvard Corporation, although no specific timeline has been provided. In her letter, Gay expressed her intention to return to a faculty position, focusing on scholarship and teaching.

The announcement of Gay’s resignation has stunned the Harvard community and sparked discussions about the future of the prestigious institution. Gay’s departure marks the end of a brief and tumultuous presidency at the renowned Ivy League school.