Kristopher Ramsay, William P. Boswell Professor of World Politics of Peace and War, will serve as interim department chair of the Department of Politics, effective July 1, 2024.

Ramsay has served in several leadership roles in the Department of Politics. He is currently the Department’s associate chair, a role he has held since July 1, 2022. He has also served as co-director of the Program for Quantitative and Analytical Political Science (QAPS), director of the Program in Political Economy, and director of graduate studies in Politics.

Ramsay studies game theory and its applications to conflict, the environment and political economy. His work has appeared in the leading journals in political science, including the Quarterly Journal of Political Science, American Journal of Political Science, American Political Science Review, International Organization, and World Politics, among others.

Ramsay received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Rochester.

“I am honored to step into the role of interim chair of the Politics Department. I extend a heartfelt thanks on behalf of the entire department to Alan Patten for his years of dedicated service and leadership as chair. I look forward to working with our distinguished faculty and talented students to uphold and advance our tradition of excellence.”

Ramsay will serve a one-year term, replacing Alan Patten, who is assuming the role of director of the University Center for Human Values, also effective July 1, 2024.

Patten commented, “Kris has a distinguished record of leadership in the department already. In addition to his experience, he brings to this new role excellent judgment, a strong sense of fairness, and a commitment to academic excellence.”