School of Professional Studies Dean Shankar K. Prasad to depart to join Carnegie

In a series of leadership roles in the Office of the Provost from 2016 to 2022, Prasad worked closely with Brown leaders to advance academic excellence, improve operational effectiveness and financial sustainability, and promote community through a range of priorities and initiatives. Among other efforts, he played important roles in academic continuity and return-to-campus planning during the COVID-19 pandemic, strategic planning and reorganizations for multiple Brown schools, institutes and centers, and the transition of the Brown Arts Initiative to the expanded Brown Arts Institute.

With a longstanding focus on cultivating a diverse and inclusive community, Prasad also played a key role in advancing campus engagement efforts to support the development of Brown's Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) in 2016, was a member of Brown's Diversity and Inclusion Oversight Board and served in governance and advisory roles for the Leadership Alliance and the Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative at Brown. He wrote the University's first global strategy for advancing research, teaching and learning around the world, working simultaneously to create an inclusive community for international students, staff and faculty on campus. In recognition of those efforts, the launch of the Global Brown lounge and the expansion of the Office of International Student and Scholar Services, Brown was awarded a Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internalization in 2019.

In assuming the role of chief strategy officer for Carnegie, a leader in higher education marketing and enrollment strategy, Prasad will be responsible for overall enterprise strategy and will oversee student search and success and presidential advisory offerings for the company.

"Working at Brown over the last decade, and particularly serving as dean of the School of Professional Studies, has been a distinct honor and privilege," Prasad said. "It has been deeply rewarding to advance Brown's mission by creating pathways for diverse learners worldwide, all while collaborating with dedicated and brilliant colleagues. I am profoundly grateful to this University for the tremendous opportunities it has given me as a student, an alum and an administrator."

Prasad holds a Ph.D. in political science from Brown, an MBA from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and bachelor's degrees in finance, political science and French from Rutgers University. He served as director of undergraduate studies and clinical professor of public policy at New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service from 2009 to 2014.

In 2014, he returned to Brown as associate director of the Watson Institute, where he was instrumental in redesigning the undergraduate and graduate policy programs, and led the transformation of the master of public affairs program into a one-year, global program.

Sandra Smith, senior associate dean for professional and executive education at the School of Professional Studies, will serve as the school's interim dean, and Doyle will develop plans for a national search for a new dean in the coming weeks.