Keeler Appointed Dean of GSPIA

John T. S. Keeler—a widely recognized scholar of European politics, comparative public policy, and transatlantic relations—has been named dean of Pitt’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA), effective July 1.

Currently, Keeler chairs the European Union Studies Association, the premier scholarly and professional association focusing on the European Union, and is a professor of political science and director of the Center for West European Studies and European Union Center at the University of Washington in Seattle.

“I have great confidence that Dr. Keeler will provide the academic and administrative leadership and judgment needed to make our GSPIA programs as strong as they can possibly become,” said Provost James V. Maher in announcing the appointment Feb. 28. “He shares our vision of strengthening our research and scholarship base and preparing students to succeed in and contribute to a global, multicultural environment. He is known for his strengths in leadership, marked by openness to discussion and a systematic approach to identifying solutions; program development; and fundraising. He also possesses the energy and integrity needed to develop the school’s priorities.”

Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg also praised Keeler’s appointment: “This year marks the 220th birthday of the University of Pittsburgh and the 50th anniversary of the founding of our Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. At these important moments in our history, we are delighted to welcome as GSPIA dean Dr. John Keeler, an internationally renowned scholar, teacher, and leader, whose demonstrated abilities and experience position him to lead an outstanding Pitt school to even higher levels of quality, achievement, and impact.”

Keeler has served since 1980 on the faculty of the University of Washington, where he chairs the Division of French and Italian Studies. He also is a member of the editorial boards of the professional journals Comparative Political Studies, Comparative European Politics, and French Politics, and has been a research associate or visiting professor at Nuffield College, University of Oxford, England; Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris and Centre de Sociologie des Organisations, Paris, France; Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium; London School of Economics; and the University of Tübingen, Germany. In addition, Keeler has served as a USAID Consultant to the Supreme Rada of Ukraine.

Keeler earned his Ph.D. and Master of Arts degrees in political science at Harvard University in 1978 and 1975, respectively; he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Southern California in 1972.

Keeler has published broadly in such notable publications as Defending Europe: NATO and the Quest for European Autonomy (Palgrave Macmillan, 2003); Chirac’s Challenge: Liberalization, Europeanization and Malaise in France (St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan, 1996); Agricultural Policy (2 volumes, Cheltenham and Edward Elgar, 2000); The Politics of Neocorporatism in France: Farmers, the State and Agricultural Policy-making in the Fifth Republic (Oxford University Press, 1987); and Réformer: Les Conditions du Changement Politique (Presses Universitaires de France, 1994). He has published articles in numerous professional journals, including Comparative Politics, Comparative Political Studies, Journal of Common Market Studies, West European Politics, and French Politics and Society. He is currently working on a book examining terrorism and transatlantic relations.

Among Keeler’s many honors are the American Political Science Association’s Gabriel A. Almond Award, the University of Washington’s Distinguished Teaching Award, and awards from three different French ministries, including the Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques from the French Ministry of Higher Education.

Keeler succeeds Carolyn Ban, GSPIA’s dean since 1997, who last May announced her resignation, which was effective Aug. 1, 2006. Ban is continuing her academic career in research and teaching as a professor in GSPIA.