Fully Jabbed & Boosted Chancellor Diagnosed with Aggressive Cancer
Former UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank will no longer take office as president of Northwestern University in Chicago after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.
It is with great sadness we share that President-elect Rebecca M. Blank has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and will be unable to fulfill her role as the 17th president of Northwestern University. https://t.co/rYUSixDxF6
— Northwestern (@NorthwesternU) July 11, 2022
Blank was about to become the first female president of Northwestern University. According to the school, Blank will now use the time to focus on her health.
It was reported on May 18 that the economist-trained chancellor tested positive for COVID despite being fully vaccinated and boosted.
Blank had served in various roles in the United States Department of Commerce, including as acting Secretary of Commerce under Barack Obama.
A native of Missouri, Blank graduated summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota with a degree in economics and holds a Ph.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.