Elliott School of International Affairs Dean Reuben Brigety II has been named vice chancellor and president of the University of the South, Sewanee, the institution announced Friday.
Dr. Brigety will remain dean of the Elliott School through the end of the spring semester before starting his new role on Aug. 1.
“It has been a great honor for me to lead the Elliott School these last five years,” Dr. Brigety said. “Our dynamic community of students, faculty, staff and alumni is among the brightest in the world, and I am confident the school will continue on its strong trajectory moving forward as we remain true to our mission of building leaders for the world.”
Since joining GW in 2015, Dr. Brigety has overseen one of the largest and top-ranked schools of international affairs in the country.
“Dean Brigety has been a powerful leader for the Elliott School, and he will leave an indelible mark,” said GW President Thomas LeBlanc. “He has strengthened the school’s academic programs, research, outreach and engagement, and he is most deserving of this next step in his career.”
With a focus on preparing students for solving complex, real-world global problems, Dr. Brigety has prioritized increasing access to new research and learning opportunities and increased fellowship support during his time as dean, including a recently launched B.S. in international affairs and a leadership initiative to prepare students for challenges they may encounter in their careers. Hundreds of events at the school each year bring heads of state, cabinet members and global leaders to campus for discussions with students.
Under Dr. Brigety’s leadership the school also has grown its research portfolio and support for its institutes; continued to recruit world-class faculty, including tenured scholars and international affairs practitioners; received significant grant funding and other recognition for its work; and recruited talented and diverse classes of undergraduate and graduate students, expanding their opportunities to experiential learning opportunities such as study abroad programs and internships.
“In the short time I have known Dean Brigety, I have been impressed by his passion for his field, his collaborative approach and his advocacy for the Elliott School’s faculty, staff, students and alumni,” said Provost M. Brian Blake. “We will work together to ensure a smooth leadership transition as he embarks on this new professional opportunity.”
Dr. Blake will announce an interim dean of the school in the coming weeks.