School Chair and Professor

Job Summary

Georgia Institute of Technology seeks a visionary leader to serve as the next Chair of the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy (CSPP) within the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. The desired appointment start date is July 1, 2027.

The chair will lead a diverse and talented community of faculty and staff working across the broad spectrum of public policy and applied social science in fulfilling the research, teaching, and service missions of the School. Situated within a world-class technological research university, the Carter School of Public Policy is uniquely positioned to advance interdisciplinary scholarship, education, and engagement at the intersection of public policy, technology, and society.

The chair will provide strategic and operational leadership including, but not limited to: faculty recruitment and development, promotion of faculty scholarship and teaching excellence, academic program quality and growth, student success, fundraising and sponsored research, external partnerships, alumni engagement, and effective budget and personnel management.

The chair will be expected to:

• Articulate a Unifying Strategic Vision: Develop and communicate a clear 5-to-10-year vision for CSPP that leverages its unique position as a liberal arts and policy school within a top-tier STEM institution.
• Strengthen Student Success & Experience: Drive recruitment, enrollment, and community-building to support the academic and professional needs of all undergraduate and graduate students.
• Support & Mentor All Faculty: Guide critical tenure, promotion, and reappointment processes while actively supporting, advocating for, and retaining junior, senior, research, and non-tenure-track faculty.
• Cultivate Campus & Interdisciplinary Synergies: Build strong collaborative connections between CSPP and other schools, colleges, and research centers across Georgia Tech to support joint research and initiatives.
• Elevate External Profile & Diversify Revenue: Serve as a dynamic advocate to raise CSPP’s national profile, engaging industry, government, and philanthropic partners to secure diverse funding streams and strategic resources.
• Foster Inclusive & Transparent Leadership: Promote open communication through regular feedback channels, bridging departmental silos to nurture a collaborative culture that values diverse scholarly perspectives.
• Streamline Operations & Organizational Capacity: Modernize internal administrative and personnel management to improve operational efficiency, transparency, and consistency in core departmental processes.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Public Policy, Social Sciences, or a related field. A record of research/scholarship, teaching, professional service, and leadership commensurate with the status of full professor at a Research 1 institution.

Preferred Qualifications

The qualities of the successful candidate for Chair include:

• Distinguished Scholarly Record: Demonstrates an accomplished academic, research, and teaching background that meets criteria for appointment as a tenured Full Professor, with a deep understanding of core public policy frameworks.
• Proven Administrative Leadership & Programmatic Growth: Has a track record of success in administrative management, leading teams, clarifying internal processes, and successfully expanding degree programs while navigating complex university systems.
• Interdisciplinary & Emerging Tech Perspective: Shows strong appreciation for cross-disciplinary research across social sciences, philosophy, legal studies, and engineering, with active engagement in modern research methods and emerging technologies like AI.
• Sustained External Funding Track Record: Demonstrates experience securing sponsored research grants from diverse sources or establishing strategic industry and philanthropic partnerships.
• Empathetic & Accessible Leadership Style: Known for an approachable, supportive, and collaborative demeanor with high moral character and strong active listening skills.
• Strategic Vision & Advocacy: Displays the ability to effectively maneuver, set policies, and advocate for the school's diverse faculty, staff, and students within broader academic bureaucracies.

Application Deadline

Candidates are encouraged to apply by November 15, 2026 for optimal consideration; however, the search will continue until the position is filled.

Required Application Materials

Applicants must submit the following through Georgia Tech’s Careers website (https://hr.gatech.edu/careers/): Job ID 304366.

• A letter of application addressing how the applicant’s background and experience can advance the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy’s existing strengths, addressing the chair expectations and responsibilities. In addition, the letter of application should provide a clear understanding of the applicant’s leadership philosophy and a commitment to inclusion and belonging.
• A curriculum vitae.
• A list of five professional references including names, positions, and contact information. Please include a brief statement of the candidate’s relationship to each reference. References will only be contacted for applicants that are identified as finalists.

Contact Information

Nominations should be directed to the sppchairsearch@gatech.edu. Requests for information regarding this employment opportunity should be directed to John Lyon, search committee chair, at jlyon38@gatech.edu.

Location

Atlanta, Georgia. The chair will be expected to travel and remain flexible to on-site daily service delivery hours.

Background Check

The candidate of choice will be required to pass a pre-employment background screening. http://policylibrary.gatech.edu/employment/pre-employment-screening.