Professor of Public Policy, Democracy Policy

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor • Ann Arbor, MI

2d

About The Position

The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan is seeking a tenured faculty member to focus on teaching, research, and public engagement in the field of democracy policy. This emerging area treats democracy as a policy domain with identifiable problems, measurable outcomes, and actionable interventions. The role involves studying domestic or global policies that support democratic norms, institutional legitimacy, and public trust in government. Areas of study may include administrative design, state capacity, transparency, accountability, election administration, franchise regulations, subnational administrative reform, redistricting policy, electoral representation, free speech protections, anti-corruption measures, and safeguards against politicization. Democracy policy intersects with established fields like economic, social, education, health, and environmental policy, drawing on institutional design, quality, and resilience. The successful candidate will contribute to understanding how public institutions can better meet public needs, reduce administrative burdens, protect democratic norms, and build effective public goods. Research can be domestic, comparative, or international, focusing on policies that foster equitable representation, just resource distribution, and strengthened democratic legitimacy and performance. Applications are welcome from various fields including political science, public policy, public administration, economics, law, and other social sciences. This position is part of a faculty cluster focused on democracy policy, data, and civic education, with two other faculty hires in the School of Information and the Marsal School of Education. The position will have a university year appointment. The Ford School is committed to attracting and retaining a distinguished and diverse faculty. Successful candidates must hold a Ph.D. in a relevant field; demonstrate a record of research excellence appropriate to their rank; exhibit the ability and willingness to teach core and elective courses in undergraduate, master's, and Ph.D. degree programs in public policy; demonstrate a commitment to public and policy engagement; and possess a keen interest in interacting with students, faculty, staff, and policy practitioners in an interdisciplinary professional school environment. Joint appointments with other university units are negotiable.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in a relevant field.
• A record of research excellence appropriate to their rank.
• Ability and willingness to teach core and elective courses in undergraduate, master's, and Ph.D. degree programs in public policy.
• Commitment to public and policy engagement.
• Keen interest in interacting with students, faculty, staff, and policy practitioners in an interdisciplinary professional school environment.

Nice To Haves

• Applications are welcome from a range of fields, including but not limited to political science, public policy, public administration, economics, law, and other social science fields.
• Open to negotiating joint appointments with other units at the university, such as the School of Environment and Sustainability, the School of Public Health, the college of Literature, Sciences, and the Arts, the Institute for Social Research, and any other unit on campus.

Responsibilities

• Teaching, research, and public engagement in the field of democracy policy.
• Studying domestic or global policies that support democratic norms, institutional legitimacy, and public trust in government.
• Conducting research on areas such as administrative design, state capacity, transparency, accountability, election administration, franchise regulations, subnational administrative reform, redistricting policy, electoral representation, free speech protections, anti-corruption measures, and safeguards against politicization.
• Teaching core and elective courses in undergraduate, master's, and Ph.D. degree programs in public policy.
• Engaging in public and policy engagement.
• Interacting with students, faculty, staff, and policy practitioners in an interdisciplinary professional school environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree