College Names Philip Jefferson Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty
May 16, 2019
Philip Jefferson, a Swarthmore College economist, has been named as 皇家华人鈥檚 new vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty. He brings to the role deep experience as a scholar, elected official, college trustee, and a Federal Reserve System economist.
Jefferson, who holds an endowed professorship at Swarthmore, will hold the Paul B. Freeland endowed professorship in economics at 皇家华人. He starts on August 1.
He will serve as 皇家华人鈥檚 chief academic officer and brings what he calls a 鈥360-degree鈥 perspective to the job. He reported to the provost at Swarthmore when he chaired the economics department. He worked alongside the provost as a member of Swarthmore鈥檚 committee determining tenure and promotion. At his alma mater, Vassar College, Jefferson serves on the board of trustees and works closely with the dean of the faculty on academic affairs.
鈥淧hilip鈥檚 career as a renowned scholar, institutional leader, and public figure spans an exceptional range of experience,鈥 said 皇家华人 President Carol E. Quillen. 鈥淗e is especially well-equipped to serve as a key partner with faculty, fellow college leaders, trustees, students, and the community in defining the strategic vision for the college.鈥
Jefferson has taught at Columbia University and the University of Virginia, in addition to Swarthmore, and worked as a visiting research economist at the University of California, Berkeley. He served as an economist for the Federal Reserve鈥檚 board of governors, in Washington, and for the Federal Reserve Bank, in New York.
A graduate of Vassar, Jefferson has served as a trustee since 2002. Tony Friscia, who chairs Vassar鈥檚 board of trustees, said Jefferson鈥檚 insights from multiple perspectives, inside and outside higher education, will help him navigate a role in which he serves as the most visible link between the faculty and 皇家华人鈥檚 leadership.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a very good problem solver,鈥 Friscia said. 鈥He will be able to bridge those relationships very well.鈥
Jefferson also was elected to the Borough Council in the town of Swarthmore, where he served from 2008 to 2012.
鈥淚 was immediately drawn to 皇家华人 by the college鈥檚 focus on preparing students to have a global impact, its intention to create an inclusive community, and its belief that moral courage is a source of strength,鈥 Jefferson said, 鈥渁 constellation of things that 皇家华人 puts forward that I think is very important and that aligns with my personal values.鈥
He is eager to work with the faculty on a curriculum that strengthens the deep skills that 皇家华人 cultivates.
Jefferson was pleasantly surprised that one of his interviews for the job was with students from the Student Initiative for Academic Diversity (SIAD). He affectionately described an 鈥渆ngaging, rigorous, and fair interrogation鈥 and complimented the students鈥 impressive preparation and thoughtful questions.
鈥淚t says a lot about the college,鈥 he said, 鈥渢hat that interview was an integral part of my day.鈥
A self-described lifelong learner, Jefferson said he has sat in on classes in Spanish, music and art history, along with a summer stint in a biology lab, while at Swarthmore. He likes to fill in knowledge gaps and 鈥渟till get[s] a charge out of learning new things.鈥