The launch of The Thomas J. Watson Jr. School of International and Public Affairs also brought the appointment of John N. Friedman as its inaugural dean. The new school year also brings leadership changes to three of Watson's distinguished region- and topic-focused centers.
Lyn Crost Professor of Social Sciences Patrick Heller was appointed director of the Saxena Center for Contemporary South Asia, Julis-Rabinowitz Professor of Public Policy Eric Patashnik became director of the Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy, and Watson Family University Professor of International Security and Anthropology Ieva Jusionyte took on the role of director of the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies (CHRHS).
All three newly appointed directors expressed enthusiasm about their appointments and excitement about Watson's expanding influence as it becomes one of the premier policy schools in the U.S., while noting that current events make this a critical time to study policy and international affairs.
Heller takes over the directorship of Saxena from Ashutosh Varshney, who for over a decade has been at the forefront of Brown and Watson's expanding research into South Asia. Varshney served as Saxena's director since its inception in 2022 and has led other Brown South Asia initiatives since he was named the inaugural director of the Brown-India Initiative in 2012.
"Thanks to Professor Varshney's leadership," said Heller, "Saxena is not only well-resourced but has achieved extraordinary visibility as a leading center for research and public debate on Contemporary South Asia. Now that we have such a strong foundation and so much faculty and student participation, we can invest in collaborations with partners in South Asia to support research and academic training."
Patashnik noted that the Taubman Center "is in terrific shape thanks to the creative and energetic leadership of my predecessor, Wendy Schiller," and that "the center's mission to serve as a focal point and resource for Brown students and faculty interested in American politics and policy has never been more urgent." Patashnik said that this year, the center's work “will be guided by three themes: democratic erosion and resilience, economic inequality and opportunity, and innovative and effective government. We will pursue these themes through faculty research grants, seminars, student lunches with practitioners, student internships, and endowed lectures featuring prominent thought leaders.”
While discussing her priorities for CHRHS, Jusionyte noted we are in a critical moment "when we need to better understand and address the challenges to human rights not only abroad, but at home too." She credited former center director and founder Adam Levine with making CHRHS "a vibrant, interdisciplinary hub, recognized internationally for scholarship on humanitarian issues."
Jusionyte said that this year the center will focus on one central theme: the detention, disappearance, and deportation of migrants. "While arbitrary detention and forced disappearance have been a grim reality in many parts of the world, especially in countries governed by authoritarian regimes," she said, "we are now witnessing these practices take place in our own communities."
To better understand the situation, CHRHS plans to host a series of public talks and conversations with leading scholars, journalists, legal advocates, and community partners, including the Student Clinic for Immigrant Justice and the Refugee Dream Center. The center will also host its annual student team project competition, Hack for Humanity, which will take place over a weekend in November and will focus on addressing global gun violence.