Leon Botstein is a Swiss-born American conductor and musicologist who was president of Bard College from 1975 to 2026. Botstein is credited with transforming Bard and significantly raising its international profile over the course of his long tenure as president. His retirement from the presidency in June 2026 was colored by revelations that he had maintained a friendly relationship with financier and child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein between 2011 and 2018. He resigned from his remaining posts at Bard in October 2026, after further scrutiny from the House Judiciary Committee.
- Occupation
- conductor, musicologist, university teacher, writer
- Citizenship
- United States, Switzerland
- Born
- December 14, 1946
