Fletcher School Dean Search
About the Search
Tufts University has launched the search for the next dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. We have engaged Russell Reynolds Associates (RRA), a leading executive recruitment firm specializing in higher education, to facilitate the search and recruit a diverse pool of candidates.
The search committee will work with RRA to identify the qualities and characteristics of a successful dean, vet a pool of candidates, conduct first-round interviews and recommend 3-4 of these candidates to advance to second-round interviews with members of the Fletcher school community, senior leadership, and other stakeholders. The goal is to complete the search by the end of the summer.
RRA has consulted widely with key stakeholders - including faculty, staff, and students from the Fletcher School - to learn about the current landscape of the school, the strategic vision for the future, and the type of leader who can best carry forward this trajectory. They have used these conversations to develop a position profile.
Submit a Nomination
The search committee has now made a call for nominations to the deanship. To nominate someone, please share their names (and their current institutions/organizations) with the search committee via tufts.fletcher@russellreynolds.com. The search consultants will be responsible for contacting nominees and asking them to submit their CV if they are interested in the role.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Provost's Office has used a similar process for all executive searches conducted since 2022. This process consists of eight phases, and typically lasts five months in duration. These phases are summarized below. Please note that the timeline will be finalized after the kick-off meeting with the search committee.
- Planning: During this first stage, we start by engaging the search firm and establishing the search committee. We also develop a communications plan that includes touchpoints with key stakeholders around important milestones.
- Kick-Off: Once the search committee is established, we announce the start of the search, hold Town Halls to share more about the process, and hold a kick-off meeting with the search firm and committee.
- Needs Assessment: The search firm then initiates data collection and engages with key stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, school leadership and advisors, to understand the current state of the school and its biggest needs. The search firm also solicits input on the scope of the position and the qualities and characteristics of the ideal candidate. Using this information, the search firm and committee develop the position profile.
- Candidate Sourcing: This is when recruitment begins. The position profile, shaped by feedback, is posted and the search firm activates their networks and recruits a robust, talented, and diverse group of candidates. The Provost's Office will share with key stakeholders that the position is live and will encourage nominations to be submitted through Russell Reynolds Associates.
- Candidate Vetting and First-Round Interviews:Once we have a candidate pool, the search committee screens and vets applicants to select a group for first-round interviews. Before vetting candidates and selecting interviewees, the search committee will complete Tufts’ implicit bias training to ensure an equitable and fair vetting and interview process. These interviews are conducted over a period of a few days via Zoom and we will communicate key stakeholders once this phase is complete.
- Second-Round Interviews:After completing first-round interviews, the search committee recommends 3-4 candidates to the Provost to advance to in-person interviews on campus. These candidates will be interviewed by a wide range of stakeholders, including faculty, staff, student leaders, school leadership, and others across the university. Each interview takes place over a day and half and interviewees are asked to complete a survey to share their reflections on the candidates with the Provost.
- Candidate Selection & Notification: Based on the feedback gathered during second-round interviews, the Provost confers with the President and selects the candidate, and then initiates the final stages of the recruitment process with the search firm and Human Resources and seeks the approval of the Board of Trustees. Following the candidate’s acceptance, we develop a communication plan to announce their appointment.
- Adrian Thomas, Assistant Dean of Diversity & Inclusion, Fletcher School
- Bhaskar Chakravorti, Dean of Global Business and Professor of Practice in International Business, Fletcher School
- Cigdem Talgar, Vice Provost for Education, Office of the Provost
- Cyndi Rubino, Director of Student Affairs, Fletcher School
- Dan Drezner, Professor of International Politics, Fletcher School
- Eileen Babbitt, Professor of Practice of International Conflict Management, Fletcher School
- Ian Johnstone, Professor of International Law, Fletcher School
- Jette Knudsen, Professor of Policy & International Business, Fletcher School (Faculty Senate Representative)
- Josephine Wolff, Associate Professor of Cybersecurity Policy, Fletcher School
- Leslie Puth, Chair, Fletcher School Board of Advisors
- Liz Tarlow, Trustee
- Maribel Blanco, Executive Associate Dean, Fletcher School
- Sara Judge, Vice President for Advancement
- Steve Block, Professor of International Economics, Fletcher School
- Tom Dannenbaum, Associate Professor of International Law, Fletcher School
Please reach out to provost@tufts.edu with any questions about the search.