April 18, 2023
Dear Colleagues:
We are pleased to announce that following a search, Mark S. Kamlet, University Professor of Economics and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University with appointments in the Institute for Politics and Strategy, Heinz College and the Department of Social and Decision Sciences, and Lisa Nelson, University of Pittsburgh associate professor in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and Philosophy of Science Center fellow, have been selected as co-directors of the Collaboratory Against Hate (CAH). The CAH is a joint venture between Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh that brings together the collective expertise from all relevant disciplines as we seek to better understand and combat hatred based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation and other prejudices.
As co-directors, Mark and Lisa will work together in partnership with CAH executive director, Susan Baida, to lead the strategy for the future of CAH. They will oversee a steering committee and advisory board to grow and sustain partnerships while driving the mission of the CAH, which seeks to understand the causes of extremist hate and find actionable interventions to minimize its destructive consequences. They both bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their roles, which will benefit the CAH as it continues and grows its work and impact.
Mark has served in several leadership positions at CMU, including department head of Social and Decision Sciences, dean of the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, provost and chief academic officer, and interim director of the Institute for Politics and Strategy. Throughout his career, he has explored the role and impact of technology on education. Mark is an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Stanford University, and a master’s degree in mathematical statistics and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of California at Berkeley.
Lisa specializes in the field of science, technology and society. She was a co-principal investigator on a National Science Foundation grant to explore the societal perceptions of biometric technology and has been the recipient of a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur grant. Before joining Pitt, she served on the Department of Homeland Security’s Data Privacy and Integrity Committee. Her current research explores social networking technologies and considers fundamental questions about information ethics and its enforcement on the Internet in an open society. She holds a Ph.D. and J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Madison.
We extend our gratitude to the search committee, led by Lucy Russell, vice provost and chief of staff at the University of Pittsburgh, and Richard Scheines, dean of the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences at CMU, for their thorough process, which led to the selection of these exceptional individuals. We also thank the outgoing co-directors, Kathleen Blee and Lorrie Cranor, for their leadership and contributions to this important initiative.
Please join us in congratulating Mark and Lisa on their appointments as co-directors of the Collaboratory Against Hate.
Sincerely,
Ann Cudd
Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor
University of Pittsburgh