The start of Brown's new fiscal year brought leadership changes to the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, as well as its programs and centers.
Alison S. Ressler Professor of Political Science and Director of the A. Alfred Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy Wendy J. Schiller was appointed the Howard R. Swearer Interim Director of the Thomas J. Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs after Edward Steinfeld completed two consecutive four-year terms as director. Schiller will continue as Taubman’s director while assuming her new duties.
Watson also experienced leadership change at some of its programs and centers.
After completing a term as the Watson Institute’s inaugural Director of Academic Programs, Susan Moffitt stepped down to take on the new role of department chair for the Department of Political Science.
Associate Professor of Comparative Literature and History Elias Muhanna assumed the role of director of the Center for Middle East Studies (CMES) after Nadje Al-Ali completed an extended term as director.
Senior Fellow in International and Public Affairs Lyle Goldstein became director of the China Initiative, replacing Steinfeld, who had served in that position since the center’s inception in 2013.
Some of Watson’s programs and centers will have interim directors for the 2024-2025 academic year. Lyn Crost Professor of Social Sciences and Professor of International and Public Affairs and Sociology Patrick Heller will serve as acting director of the Graduate Program in Development (GPD) while Prerna Singh is on sabbatical. Associate Professor of Anthropology Parker VanValkenburgh will serve as acting director of the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) while Neil Safier is on sabbatical. Director of the Rhodes Center for International Economics and Finance Mark Blyth will serve as acting director of the Climate Solutions Lab while Jeff Colgan is on sabbatical. Blyth will continue in his role as director of the Rhodes Center.