University of Oklahoma President David L. Boren announced today that Suzette Grillot, an expert in international relations, security studies and comparative politics, has been named dean of OU’s College of International Studies. The announcement of her appointment, effective Dec. 15, was made at the December meeting of the OU Board of Regents.
Grillot, who was instrumental in the creation and development of the College of International Studies, has served as interim dean since July 1 and previously served as the college’s associate dean for four years. She also will serve as the William J. Crowe Jr. Chair in Geopolitics, professor in the Department of International and Area Studies and as vice provost of International Programs.
“Suzette Grillot is a gifted educator and administrator,” Boren said. “Under her leadership, the college is continuing to establish itself as a national leader in international studies.”
Grillot teaches courses focusing on subjects such as global security, international activism, illicit trafficking, and international politics, literature and film. Students in a Grillot classroom are presented with rigorous and demanding coursework as they examine topics from numerous perspectives. They often have the unique opportunity to engage with other scholars and local leaders whom she invites to guest lecture.
In the past decade, Grillot’s curiosity about the world and its people has led her to spend a semester teaching in Macedonia as a Fulbright Scholar and a semester as a teaching fellow at Beijing University in China. During her time abroad, she traveled to conduct research in dozens of countries in Europe and Asia. In June, she completed a 10-month appointment as Faculty-in-Residence at OU’s signature international program in Arezzo, Italy.
Grillot’s teaching has been recognized with the Gary B. Cohen Distinguished Faculty Award, the Educator’s Leadership Academy Outstanding Professor Award, and OU’s Presidential Distinguished Faculty Mentor Award.
A prolific author, Grillot has published articles in the British Journal of Political Science, International Politics and Contemporary Security Policy, among many others. She recently co-edited the book, Understanding the Global Community (to be published in 2013) and co-authored the books Protecting Our Ports: National and International Security of Containerized Freight (2010) and The International Arms Trade (2009). Additionally, she hosts the award-winning weekly World Views radio show on the OU’s NPR affiliate, KGOU, which features key individuals whose international expertise enhances Oklahoma’s knowledge and connection to world events.
Grillot earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Oklahoma State University and a doctoral degree in political science from the University of Georgia.
