Peter Uvin, originally from Flanders, Belgium, has recently been named Provost at Amherst College in Massachusetts, United States, founded in 1821 and ranked consistently in the top 10 colleges in the country. He will take up his position at the end of this academic year.
Currently the Academic Dean at Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, he earned a PhD in political science at the Graduate Institute in 1991. He also holds a bachelor's degree in diplomatic science and a master's degree in political science from Ghent University.
Also Professor of Humanitarian Studies, Peter Uvin’s academic specialisations are development, conflict and human rights in Africa’s Great Lakes region. He is the author of the award winning book Aiding Violence: The Development Enterprise in Rwanda, published in 1999.
Peter Uvin’s role at Amherst will consist of strengthening collaboration between faculty and administrators, recruiting faculty, working on diversity issues and international programmes in addition to other strategic duties.
Amherst College President Biddy Martin announced on the school’s website “Peter brings a rare combination of scholarly and administrative achievement. He is smart, creative, deft, and funny. He is committed to the values we hold dear at Amherst and will play a significant role in advancing them.”
The Institute congratulates Professor Uvin on his latest achievement.