Announcing the Search for the Director of CMU’s Institute for Politics and Strategy

Dear Carnegie Mellon Faculty:

The Institute for Politics and Strategy (IPS) is a highly interdisciplinary unit that supports research in areas like international relations, decision science and national security. 

Mark Kamlet, university professor and provost emeritus, has graciously served as IPS’s interim director during the last several months. We thank him for continuing to serve in this important role until a permanent director is appointed. Today, we announce the comprehensive, global search for the next director for IPS. 

Appointed by and reporting to the dean of the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, this position will provide key leadership in continuing to move forward this dynamic, interdisciplinary department and cross-university institute. The director will provide strategic vision and oversight in different areas of IPS research and teaching, as well as support faculty in their diverse research activities. Additionally, they will promote IPS research and educational activities, connect the intellectual and educational mission of the department to CMU’s broader mission, and foster partnerships with other departments and units across campus. 

Members of the search committee include:

• Ignacio Arana, Assistant Teaching Professor at the Institute for Politics and Strategy
• Catherine Augustine, Director of the RAND Pittsburgh Office and Senior Policy Researcher for the RAND Corporation
• Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou, Dean, Tepper School of Business
• Jonathan Caulkins, Stever University Professor of Operations Research at Heinz College
• Mark Kamlet, University Professor of Economics and Public Policy and Provost Emeritus
• Ramayya Krishnan, Dean, Heinz College Of Information Systems And Public Policy And William W. And Ruth F. Cooper Professor Of Management Science And Information Systems
• Tim McNulty, Associate Vice President for Government Relations
• Sarah Mendelson, Distinguished Service Professor of Public Policy and Head of Heinz College in Washington, DC
• Richard Scheines, The Bess Family Dean of the Mariana Brown Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Given the caliber of this position, I have agreed to serve as chair of the search committee, and sincerely thank the other members for their commitment and service to the university. 

As part of its charge, the committee will work with the search firm Isaacson, Miller to play an active role in identifying qualified individuals, encouraging nominations and applications, and monitoring the confidential applicant pool to ensure quality and diversity. To obtain input on select candidates, the committee also will actively engage key university stakeholders. I am grateful to former director Kiron Skinner for growing IPS into an important cross-university institute, and to Mark Kamlet for his leadership in this interim phase.

I look forward to identifying a director to grow IPS into a world-class entity that is distinctive because of its interdisciplinary connections, both in education and research.  

Please visit the search website for more information.

Sincerely,

Jim Garrett
Provost and Chief Academic Officer