Overview

Princeton University seeks a new Dean of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA). The Dean will lead SPIA as it enters a new era in its distinguished history, symbolized by the decision to remove Woodrow Wilson’s name from the school in 2020. 

 

In the decades since 1930 when the original School of Public and International Affairs was formed, it has expanded beyond an undergraduate program and now offers graduate degree programs leading to the Master of Public Affairs, Master of Public Policy, and Ph.D. degrees, as well as an undergraduate concentration. The School has 86 tenured and tenure-track faculty members, most of whom hold joint appointments in academic departments and programs such as Politics, History, Economics, Psychology, African American Studies, Sociology, Geosciences, Human Values, Demography, Molecular Biology, and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. There are approximately 250 junior and senior undergraduate concentrators and 189 students enrolled in advanced degree programs, including 38 pursuing the Ph.D.  

Responsibilities

The School embarks on the search for a new leader from an enviable position, including a strong leadership team, a remarkable collection of faculty from a range of disciplines, exceptionally talented undergraduate and graduate students, and substantial human and economic resources. SPIA is committed to building on this foundation and becoming more than what it is, to fostering a more diverse and inclusive community, and to producing research and training leaders who will confront great challenges like climate change, inequality, racial injustice, threats to democracy, and international conflict. Princeton seeks a leader with an ambitious vision to guide the school into this new era, leading the faculty and students in research and training driven by the ideals of rigor, public service, and the collective good. The next dean will lead a school that inspires tremendous loyalty and pride among its faculty, students, and alumni.

Qualifications

A successful candidate should possess a rare combination of strength in the following areas:

 

• distinguished scholarly record of achievement qualifying them to be appointed to the tenured faculty of SPIA and an academic department;
• a commitment to the education of both undergraduate and graduate students;
• the ability to understand research across the full range of disciplines represented by SPIA, and work closely and collaboratively with an interdisciplinary faculty;
• a focus on applying scholarly research to public policy issues;
• an aptitude for communicating the importance of policy-relevant scholarship to students, faculty, alumni, policy makers, and the public;
• clear understanding and respect for what makes SPIA an institution that inspires such pride, and a clear vision of what it can become; and
• a demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion, equity and social justice.

Princeton University is being assisted on this search by Isaacson, Miller.  All nominations and inquiries can be directed to Lisa Savereid, Partner, (508) 269-7726, LSavereid@imsearch.com. Electronic submission of credentials is strongly encouraged.Nominations may be sent to spiasearch@princeton.edu

 

Review of candidates will begin immediately.  To receive full consideration, nominations and applications should be received by February 25, 2021.

 

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. EEO IS THE LAW.

 

Standard Weekly Hours36.25Eligible for OvertimeNoBenefits EligibleYesEssential Services Personnel (see policy for detail)NoPhysical Capacity Exam RequiredNoValid Driver’s License RequiredNo#LI-NR1