Prof. Ethan Bueno de Mesquita has been appointed dean of the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, President Paul Alivisatos and Provost Katherine Baicker announced. His term will begin July 1.
Bueno de Mesquita, AB’96, the Sydney Stein Professor at the Harris School and in the College, has served as interim dean of the school since March 2023. Under his leadership, Harris has achieved notable successes through the creation and expansion of multiple programs and initiatives, including the Technology and Society Initiative and a school-based program on free expression and civil discourse. He also led the launch of the inaugural Harris Policy Innovation Challenge and the Democracy Innovation Fund. Bueno de Mesquita’s appointment was informed by the recommendations of a Deanship Advisory Committee.
“For more than a year, Ethan’s service as interim dean has been exemplary,” Alivisatos said. “He has a deep appreciation for what the Harris School has to offer the academy and society writ large, and he is driven to lead it to even greater heights. I am confident that he will be a terrific dean.”
A renowned scholar, Bueno de Mesquita’s research focuses on using game theory to analyze and understand national security, violent conflicts, electoral politics and other related areas. He has authored or co-authored three books: Political Economy for Public Policy, Theory and Credibility, and Thinking Clearly with Data, along with many articles in political science and economics. He is the recipient of many fellowships and honors, and his research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research and the United States Institute of Peace.
“I am thrilled that Ethan will continue providing outstanding leadership to the Harris School,” said Baicker, who served as dean of Harris from 2017 to 2023. “His strategic acumen and unwavering dedication to the University’s core values makes him the ideal person to advance the school’s mission and shape the future of public policy research and education.”
A member of the UChicago faculty since 2007, Bueno de Mesquita previously served as deputy dean of Harris. Throughout his tenure at UChicago, he has made significant contributions to the expansion of Harris and to multiple initiatives across campus, including the University’s efforts in areas concerning AI and technology.
In addition to his faculty roles at Harris and in the College, Bueno de Mesquita is a faculty associate in the Department of Political Science. He earned his Ph.D. and master’s degree in political science from Harvard University and his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Chicago.
“I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to lead the University of Chicago Harris School, an institution that has defined my professional life and is dedicated to work I believe in so deeply,” Bueno de Mesquita said. “The Harris faculty and students are united in their commitment to addressing society’s most pressing challenges with great rigor and passion. It is an honor to work with them in building this extraordinary community of policy scholars and leaders.”
—Prof. Chuan He
