Lori Poloni-Staudinger Named New Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Lori M. Poloni-Staudinger will join the University of Arizona on July 18 as the new dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Poloni-Staudinger is currently the interim dean of Northern Arizona University’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences – which has an enrollment of approximately 10,000 students.  She previously served as associate dean for research, personnel, and graduate programs in the same college. She has been active in promoting student success, faculty governance, community engagement, international education, and diversity in the academy.

“As a resident of Arizona for almost two decades, I have long admired the scholarly accomplishments and high-quality programs at the University of Arizona and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences,” Poloni-Staudinger said. “I look forward to working together with the faculty and the larger community to advance the College of SBS and to create the university of the future.”

A professor in NAU’s Department of Politics and International Affairs, Poloni-Staudinger earned her doctorate from Indiana University in political science. She is the author five books and over 30 articles, chapters, and reports. She has conducted research on social movements and political participation in Europe and the United States. Her recent work focuses on gender, political violence, and political ambition. Her expertise has led to publications in The Washington Post as well as other popular media outlets.

Poloni-Saudinger has worked to increase citizen participation in politics, facilitating dozens of community forums throughout the state of Arizona. Her civic engagement work led to the development of Arizona Deliberates, a cooperative, grant-funded project between Maricopa Community College District, NAU, and nonprofits. She has also served as president of the Women’s Caucus for the Midwest Political Science Association.

Poloni-Staudinger has been a Distinguished Fulbright Fellow at the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna, Austria, a Kettering Foundation Fellow, and a consultant for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. She attended Harvard’s Management Development Program, which provided training and insight into higher education leadership and operations.

Poloni-Staudinger will succeed John Paul Jones III, who was named dean of Global Education at Arizona Global following his 12-year term as dean of the College of SBS.

“I am confident that Dr. Poloni-Staudinger’s experience and vision – combined with our talented faculty and staff – will lead to exciting developments for the People College,” Jones said.