Humphrey School of Public Affairs Dean Eric Schwartz has appointed Carissa Slotterback, associate professor in the school’s Urban and Regional Planning area, to the role of associate dean effective June 12. Slotterback has been a member of the Humphrey School faculty for 13 years and has previously served as director of research engagement in the University of Minnesota’s Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR).

“Carissa brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this critically important position, and I’m very excited that she will take on this role,” said Dean Schwartz. “Carissa is an extraordinary leader in the community and at the University, and will serve the Humphrey School—and our students—well at this critical time in public affairs.”

Known for her important work on collaborative engagement, Slotterback has initiated and led University-wide efforts to advance cross-disciplinary and engaged education and research. At the OVPR, she developed and implemented initiatives to advance research that engages individuals across disciplines and with partners in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Slotterback is excited for the opportunity to serve the Humphrey School and broader University community in this new role. “The focus of this position on education, research, and engagement offers unique opportunities to support even greater collaboration and positive community impact.”

Slotterback succeeds Laura Bloomberg, who has held the associate dean position for four years and will transition to the role of dean when Schwartz steps down next month. After Schwartz announced his plans to assume the role of president of Refugees International, an advocacy organization that focuses on refugee issues in Washington, DC, University Provost Karen Hanson appointed Bloomberg as his successor.

“It is a luxury to have a transition that will not only be seamless, but will build on the progress of the past many years and strengthen this institution even further,” said Schwartz. “We are fortunate to have two extraordinary individuals who are leaders in the community and know the Humphrey School so very well.”

Slotterback’s academic work focuses on stakeholder involvement and decision-making related to environmental, land use, and transportation planning. As the director of the Humphrey School’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree program for four years, Slotterback advanced the program's connections to urban and regional planning practice, including with the Minnesota Chapter of the American Planning Association.

At the University level, Slotterback has initiated and led campus-wide efforts to advance sustainability education by connecting faculty through the Sustainability Faculty Network and most recently through the Resilient Communities Project, which is focused on building community-university partnerships to advance sustainability. In addition, she has served in several leadership roles in the broader urban planning arena, including substantial engagement with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning, where she will begin her second term as elected secretary this fall.