The search begins for PSIA's new dean

LEADING A WORLD-CLASS SCHOOL

Sciences Po invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA). PSIA attracts the best and brightest students worldwide, and its success over its first decade is reflected in Sciences Po’s current 2nd place ranking for “Politics and International Studies” amongst universities worldwide by QS 2021.

The new Dean will be a globally aware, innovative and experienced leader who will guide the School into its second decade of influence and impact, whilst both maintaining the highest distinction in graduate programs that are amongst the most attractive in the world and helping to advance the production and dissemination of world-class research relating to major global challenges. S/he will provide strategic leadership to advance its overall quality, reputation, diversity, and aspirational goals.

A Search Committee has been set up to review applications. It is chaired by Vanessa Scherrer, Vice President for International Affairs at Sciences Po, and is composed of two permanent faculty members and two external members (who also serve on PSIA’s strategic committee): Patrick Le Galès, Professor and Dean of the Urban School at Sciences Po, Sergei Guriev, Professor of Economics at Sciences Po, Bruno Stagno Ugarte, Deputy Executive Director at Human Rights Watch, and Ursula Plassnik, Austrian diplomat and politician.

Full details of the position can be found here. 

Previous PSIA deans 

Established in 2010, PSIA became Sciences Po’s fourth professional graduate school as part of a series of reforms by (then) Director Richard Descoings both to internationalise the institution and to better prepare students for professional life. >Ghassan Salamé served as PSIA inaugural dean (2010-2015). He was succeeded by Enrico Letta, who served as dean until a few months ago (2015-2021).

Ghassan Salamé

Ghassan Salamé is Professor of International Relations. He was Minister of Culture of Lebanon (2000-2003), Political Advisor to the UN Mission in Iraq (2003), Senior Advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General (2003-2005 and again in 2012), and UN Special Representative to Libya (2017-2020). He is the author of several academic books. An intellectual widely acclaimed on all continents, Ghassan Salamé is one of the most respected actors and observers of international affairs and conflict resolution of the past three decades. He served as the inaugural Dean of PSIA from 2010 to 2015. 

Enrico Letta

Enrico Letta is the head of the Democratic Party of Italy and the President of the Jacques Delors Institute. He was the Prime Minister of Italy from April 2013 to February 2014. Before he served as Minister for EU Affairs (1998-1999), as Minister for Industry, Commerce and Crafts (January-April 2000, during the second D’Alema Government), as Minister for Industry, Commerce and Crafts and Foreign Trade (2000-2001, during the second Amato Government) and as Undersecretary of State to the Prime Minister of the centre-left government led by Romano Prodi from 2006 to 2008. He is the author of many books on international and economic affairs, with particular reference to EU enlargement. He served as Dean of PSIA from 2015 to 2021.