Axelrod stepping down as director of politics institute at University of Chicago

David Axelrod, former senior adviser in the Obama administration, is stepping down as the director of the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago in 2023, the school and Axelrod announced Tuesday.

The former Obama strategist in 2013 helped launch the institute, which touts a mission of being “committed to fostering in our students a passion for public service, meaningful dialogue and active engagement in our democracy,” according to the University of Chicago’s announcement.

The school said that Axelrod will step down from his role in January 2023 and become a senior fellow at the institute and the chair of its advisory board.

“It has been a joy to serve as the founding director of the University of Chicago Institute of Politics. Next year, our 10th, I’ll be stepping back from that role, but not from @UChiPolitics. If you want hope, spend a few hours w/the young people I’ve encountered. What a gift!!” tweeted Axelrod, who is also an alumnus of the school. 

University of Chicago President Paul Alivisatos said in a statement that Axelrod was “the ideal person to launch the Institute.”

“David’s leadership of the IOP has driven its incredible growth and success over the past decade, and has been pivotal to cultivating interest in, and engagement with, local, national and global politics as a central tenet of student life at the University, particularly in the College,” Alivisatos said.

The institute has provided thousands of paid internships to students interested in working in public service and politics, hosted speakers including former Presidents Obama and Carter and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and provided a variety of programs on campus, the university’s news release noted.