Academics

Scott Bennett named associate dean in College of the Liberal Arts

Scott Bennett, Penn State distinguished professor of political science, will become associate dean for research and graduate studies in the College of the Liberal Arts on July 1. Credit: Emilee Spokus, Penn State College of the Liberal Arts / Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — D. Scott Bennett, distinguished professor of political science, will become associate dean for research and graduate studies in the Penn State College of the Liberal Arts, effective July 1.

“Scott’s scholarly acumen, combined with his previous experience leading our Department of Political Science and filling other administrative roles in the college and at Penn State, make him the perfect person to undertake this critical role for us,” said Susan Welch, dean of the College of the Liberal Arts. “I look forward to working with Scott on solidifying the college’s status among the elite liberal arts research institutions in the nation.”

Bennett joined the Penn State faculty in 1994 after receiving his doctorate in political science from the University of Michigan the previous year. A noted scholar on international conflicts and predicting and assessing the duration of international wars, crises, rivalries and alliances, he was named a liberal arts research professor in 2004 and a distinguished professor in 2008. Bennett also has designed two widely regarded software packages used by political scientists: MARGene, or the Minorities at Risk Data Generation and Management Program; and EUGene, or the Expected Utility Generation and Data Management Program, which won the 2011 J. David Singer Data Innovation Award from the American Political Science Association.

Bennett served as head of the Department of Political Science from 2009 to 2014 and previously served as the department’s graduate program director. He also serves on Penn State’s Executive Committee for Research Computing and Cyber Infrastructure; is a past president and current nominating committee chair of the Peace Science Society; and past president and treasurer of the American Political Science Association’s Conflict Processes Section.

“We are perhaps the most diverse of all of Penn State’s colleges,” Bennett said. “I believe this diversity also makes liberal arts one of Penn State’s most dynamic colleges, with interdisciplinary centers and ongoing opportunities for cross-cutting conversations and research.

“I believe the role of the associate dean is to recognize and support research in multiple forms, whether it be through grants, publications, prestigious fellowships, or engaging in activities that receive external recognition,” he continued. “I plan to look at how we can promote research that tackles big problems and position teams of liberal arts researchers to seek out large funding opportunities as they arise in a competitive environment. We will also continue to support departments’ efforts to grow stronger, more successful graduate programs that place students in notable positions.”

Last Updated May 8, 2017