Jonathan Holloway, the president of Rutgers University, will be stepping down at the end of this academic year, ending a turbulent five-year term in which he both strengthened the university and faced criticism and controversy.

Dr. Holloway, a historian of the African American experience who himself made history as Rutgers’ first Black president, said in a message on Tuesday to the Rutgers community that he plans to take a sabbatical in the 2025-26 academic year to work on longstanding research projects. He will then return to teaching at Rutgers full time.