Three Prominent Academics Leave Yale for Canada Over U.S. Political Climate

Timothy Snyder, Marci Shore, and Jason Stanley cite fears of authoritarianism and threats to academic freedom under the Trump administration in their move to the University of Toronto.

Timothy Snyder, Marci Shore, and Jason Stanley, all noted critics of Donald Trump, have confirmed their departure from Yale University to join the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy.
The scholars attribute their decision to growing concerns about authoritarianism, declining academic freedom, and fears of civil unrest in the United States following Trump's re-election in November 2024.
Marci Shore expressed particular concern for her children's safety and the ability of U.S. universities to protect their communities in a politically volatile environment.
Timothy Snyder emphasized that his decision was largely personal, though political concerns were intertwined, while Jason Stanley criticized U.S. universities for yielding to government pressure.
The University of Toronto had been recruiting Snyder and Shore for two years, but their final decision to relocate came after Trump's re-election and escalating tensions in the U.S. academic landscape.