The University of Oklahoma announced today the appointment of Scott Fritzen, Ph.D., as dean of the David L. Boren College of International Studies and associate provost for global engagement, pending OU Board of Regents’ approval.

His new role at OU will begin July 1.

Fritzen will come to OU from the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, where he serves as director of international executive education and director of the school’s global Master of Public Administration program.

A national search was conducted for the position, attracting 50 highly qualified applicants. The search committee – made up of nine members representing faculty, graduate students, the College of International Studies Board of Visitors, international student recruitment, and the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, and Fine Arts – interviewed 10 semifinalists and invited three finalists to campus. The search solicited feedback from all College of International Studies constituencies – faculty, staff, students and board members – and from other college deans, who met with each of the finalists. Fritzen was the search committee’s unanimous choice and the preferred candidate of the combined College of International Studies constituencies.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Fritzen to the University of Oklahoma,” said OU Interim President Joseph Harroz Jr. “His deep knowledge of global policy trends and commitment to international engagement make him an ideal choice to lead the College of International Studies. Under his leadership, OU’s impact globally will reach new heights, and OU students will be prepared to pursue meaningful and rewarding careers in international relations. My sincere thanks to the search committee for their exceptional work and for the great intention they showed in seeking input from the OU community.”

Before joining the faculty at UW, Fritzen served in a variety of faculty and leadership roles – including as vice dean for academic affairs, interim dean and associate provost – at New York University, New York University Shanghai and the National University of Singapore. Over the course of his career, he has studied and worked in a broad range of countries, and is proficient in German, Vietnamese, Japanese, Indonesian and Chinese.

“Dr. Fritzen has a proven leadership record of overseeing academic strategy, building new programs, improving research productivity, and launching a number of collaborative initiatives by stewarding partnerships with campus and external stakeholders,” said Senior Vice President and Provost Kyle Harper. “His experiences and expertise will inspire our students and will continue elevating the college’s position as a leading institution for international engagement.”

Fritzen’s research and consulting focus on comparative anti-corruption and public integrity reforms, and on the globalization of public policy education. He was the first American in the post-war era designated a Fulbright Fellow for Vietnam.

“Scott Fritzen has an extensive range of directly applicable experiences in developing and implementing international programs and global initiatives,” said Dean David Wrobel, search committee chair and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “He demonstrates a deep interest in understanding all parts of the world and imparting that global perspective to OU’s domestic students, while creating the best, most welcoming environment at OU for international students. We are delighted to welcome Dean Fritzen to the OU family.”

Fritzen earned his Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Michigan State University. He also attended Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, where he earned his Master in Public Affairs and Urban and Regional Planning, as well as his Ph.D. in Public Affairs.

About the University of Oklahoma

Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information visit www.ou.edu.