School Chair and Professor - Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy

Georgia Tech prides itself on its technological resources, collaborations, high-quality student body, and its commitment to building an outstanding and diverse community of learning, discovery, and creation. We strongly encourage applicants whose values align with our institutional values, as outlined in our strategic plan. These values include academic excellence, diversity of thought and experience, inquiry and innovation, collaboration and community, and ethical behavior and stewardship. Georgia Tech has policies to promote a healthy work-life balance and is aware that attracting faculty may require meeting the needs of two careers

About Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech is a top-ranked public research university situated in the heart of Atlanta, a diverse and vibrant city with numerous economic and cultural strengths. The Institute serves more than 45,000 students through top-ranked undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs in engineering, computing, science, business, design, and liberal arts. Georgia Tech's faculty attracted more than $1.4 billion in research awards this past year in fields ranging from biomedical technology to artificial intelligence, energy, sustainability, semiconductors, neuroscience, and national security. Georgia Tech ranks among the nation's top 20 universities for research and development spending and No. 1 among institutions without a medical school.

Georgia Tech's Mission and Values

Georgia Tech's mission is to develop leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. The Institute has nine key values that are foundational to everything we do:

1. Students are our top priority.

2. We strive for excellence.

3. We thrive on diversity.

4. We celebrate collaboration.

5. We champion innovation.

6. We safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression.

7. We nurture the wellbeing of our community.

8. We act ethically.

9. We are responsible stewards.

Over the next decade, Georgia Tech will become an example of inclusive innovation, a leading technological research university of unmatched scale, relentlessly committed to serving the public good; breaking new ground in addressing the biggest local, national, and global challenges and opportunities of our time; making technology broadly accessible; and developing exceptional, principled leaders from all backgrounds ready to produce novel ideas and create solutions with real human impact.

Atlanta, Georgia.

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

Please visit the search website to download the job profile and learn more information about the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy and Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts: https://iac.gatech.edu/about/public-policy-chair-search

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The Institute is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for all. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and Institute policy, Georgia Tech provides equal opportunity to all faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including applicants for admission and/or employment, contractors, volunteers, and participants in institutional programs, activities, or services. Georgia Tech complies with all applicable laws and regulations governing equal opportunity in the workplace and in educational activities.

Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamental values of the University System of Georgia ("USG") and Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech prohibits discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, on the basis of an individual's race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status in its programs, activities, employment, and admissions. Further, Georgia Tech prohibits citizenship status, immigration status, and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, and recruitment, except where such restrictions are required in order to comply with law, regulation, executive order, or Attorney General directive, or where they are required by Federal, State, or local government contract.

A successful candidate must be able to pass a background check. Please visit: https://usg.policystat.com/policy/19298143/latest