The New School for Social Research announces search for new dean

Milberg has been an integral part of The New School for over 32 years, serving as a professor of economics and chair member of the Department of Economics before being appointed as the dean of NSSR in 2013.

(Originally written and published for The New School Free Press)

The New School for Social Research (NSSR) has announced its search for a new executive dean as the current dean William Milberg is set to step down from his position this summer.

In early February, NSSR began the search by inviting “nominations and applications” for the new dean position through a job listing. On Feb. 12, NSSR’s official Twitter account reposted a tweet, which linked the job listing, and added, “our search for the next Dean is on!”

The search for a new dean comes at a critical moment for The New School as a whole. The institution has undergone significant changes in recent years, including the appointment of a new president, Dwight A. McBride, the consolidation of several academic programs, and substantial financial challenges.

The full position profile, a 7-page PDF document, seeks candidates with “leadership and administrative experience in complex higher-education settings,” and an “exemplary record in teaching and research that merits an appointment at the level of full professor.” The candidate’s leadership approach should also closely align with the culture and values of NSSR and The New School.

Milberg has been a part of The New School for over 32 years, serving as a professor of economics and chair member of the Department of Economics before being appointed as the dean of NSSR in 2013. Additionally, he is the co-director of the Heilbroner Center for Capitalism Studies at The New School. According to his faculty profile, Milberg’s research “focuses on the relation between globalization, income distribution and economic growth, and the history and philosophy of economics.”

During his nearly ten-year tenure as dean, Milberg has “prioritized interdisciplinary collaboration and student and faculty support,” said  Renée T. White, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, in an official message announcing his departure. White’s message also noted that, under his leadership, NSSR raised over $65 million in an effort to increase funding for graduate student fellowships and faculty research.

Despite stepping down this summer, Milberg will return as a professor in the Economics department at both NSSR and Lang, and will continue his involvement in The Heilbroner Center for Capitalism Studies at The New School.

According to Provost White’s message, the search committee for the incoming NSSR dean includes “members from across the college,” and is co-chaired by Lang Dean Christoper Cox and NSSR Professor Alice Crary. Additionally, an external search firm, Koya Partners, is also involved in the search process.

As outlined in the position profile, the incoming dean will be tasked with a crucial role in shaping the future of the institution and ensuring it “remains at the forefront of progressive and diverse research and pedagogy in the social sciences and philosophy.”