Distinctively Dietrich
Our Strategic Plan
Mapping an ambitious path forward for Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences
As Carnegie Mellon University navigates profound change and our nation reexamines the role of higher education, we have an opportunity to define an exciting new path forward for Dietrich College. Led from within the college and informed by faculty, staff, student and alumni perspectives, this process will build on the Dietrich community's distinctive strengths, explore new possibilities, and identify where we can make the greatest impact on society.
Timeline: A Five-Year Commitment
The strategic plan will provide a roadmap for the next five years (2026-2031).
Over the coming months, we’ll identify a focused set of strategic priorities that reflect Dietrich College’s distinctive strengths and advance CMU's mission and Strategic Framework. Those priorities will guide our decisions about programs, hiring, investments and partnerships, and we will invite departments and units to innovate boldly within them.
Year 1
Build
July 2026–June 2027
We'll establish our principles and process, then spend nine months in plan development. Our plan will be ratified by June 30, 2027.
Years 2-4
Implement
July 2027–June 2030
We'll implement the plan, using the agreed upon pillars and indicators. Strategic goals will stay stable and operational goals will evolve as needed.
Year 5
Assess & Renew
July 2030–June 2031
We'll evaluate the progress of the strategic plan, adjust based on lessons learned, and initiate the next planning cycle.
Meet the Steering Committee
The steering committee is made up of Dietrich College faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students and alumni representing both the humanities and social sciences.
- Rebecca Nugent (co-chair), Fienberg University Professor and head of the Department of Statistics & Data Science
- Andreea Ritivoi (co-chair), William S. Dietrich Professor of English and Dietrich College's associate dean for research
- David Badre, George A. and Helen Dunham Cowan Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience and director of the Neuroscience Institute
- Adam Bjorndahl, associate professor and director of graduate studies for the Department of Philosophy
- Lynn S. Collester (DC 1985), majors: economics and industrial management
- Brit McCandless Farmer (DC 2008), majors: professional and creative writing
- Russell Golman, professor, Social and Decision Sciences
- Khaled Harras, teaching professor of computer science and senior associate dean of faculty, Carnegie Mellon-Qatar
- Larry Heimann, teaching professor, Information Systems
- Bobby Klatzky, Charles J. Queenan, Jr. University Professor of Psychology and Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology
- Nadiya Kostyuk, assistant professor, Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST)
- Marsha Lovett, vice provost for teaching and learning innovation and teaching professor, Psychology
- Mame-Fatou Niang, Trustee Professor of Global French Studies and director of the Center for the Black European Studies and the Atlantic
- S. Shria Parupudi (DC 2027), major: statistics and data science
- Chris Phillips, professor and head, History
- Andrew Ramey, director of advising, Dietrich College
- Max Siemers (GRADUATION YEAR), Ph.D., Philosophy
