Erik Luijten named new Northwestern provost

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Erik Luijten named new Northwestern provost

McCormick associate dean and professor to become Northwestern's chief academic officer

• Link to: Northwestern Now Story

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Erik Luijten, Associate Dean for Research and Doctoral Education in Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering, has been named the University's next provost, Interim President Henry Bienen announced today. Luijten will work closely with Provost Kathleen Hagerty in the coming months to learn more about the Office of the Provost before officially assuming the role. Hagerty announced in October that she would step down after serving six years as provost.

Luijten has spent more than a decade in academic leadership roles at Northwestern. In his current role, he has managed research administration, research development and Northwestern Engineering's Ph.D. programs since 2023. A professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Luijten has worked to strengthen scholarship across schools and disciplines, including work with the Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts and Northwestern's Prison Education Program.

"I'm pleased to welcome distinguished scientist and administrator Erik Luijten as our next provost," said President Bienen. "During his 17 years at Northwestern, Professor Luijten has developed a reputation for academic excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration and strong, clear leadership. His background in fundamental research, along with his efforts to bridge the physical sciences with the arts and humanities, make him uniquely qualified to lead Northwestern's academic mission now and into the future.

"Through a series of leadership roles at McCormick, Erik has shown an ability to translate institutional priorities into clear policies that support faculty, staff and students - a skill that is vital for any provost."

Luijten, who also holds courtesy appointments in Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy, and Chemistry, said Northwestern stands at a pivotal moment in its institutional trajectory.

"I am honored to become Northwestern's next provost," Luijten said. "I care deeply about our institution, and I plan to work hard to elevate Northwestern's national and global presence in higher education and research and strengthen the creativity and innovation that is at the heart of Northwestern's identity."

Luijten said he is grateful for Hagerty's leadership and is excited to learn from her in the coming months as he transitions to the provost role.

"I believe that disciplined strategic investments in faculty excellence, research infrastructure and the student experience will ensure that Northwestern maintains its lead in emerging fields while preserving its distinct style in education and scholarship," Luijten said. "I look forward to working with the Office of the Provost's talented and dedicated staff to advance this work."

Francesca Cornelli, dean of the Kellogg School of Management who chaired the Provost Search Committee, said Luijten was selected from an exceptional group of finalists.

"Everyone on the selection committee, representing the very broad range of Northwestern's academic community, was impressed by Erik's passion for Northwestern, commitment to interdisciplinary study and dedication to excellence," Cornelli said. "I am also very thankful for the amazing search committee who worked very hard to find the ideal academic leader for Northwestern."

As the University's chief academic officer, the provost reports to the president and works with the deans, administrative leadership, faculty and staff to set and advance the institution's intellectual mission.

The provost helms an academic enterprise that comprises 12 schools and numerous academic and operational units that collectively advance Northwestern's educational and research mission.

"Erik Luijten is an accomplished researcher and an experienced administrator with a demonstrated talent for elevating the academic efforts of faculty, students and postdocs," said Hagerty, who was appointed provost in 2020. "I am excited to work closely with Professor Luijten in the coming months to ensure a smooth and successful transition of Northwestern's academic leadership."

Earlier in his tenure at Northwestern, Luijten served as director of the Applied Physics Graduate Program; department chair, Materials Science and Engineering; academic director, Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts; and associate dean for Faculty Affairs at McCormick.

Prior to joining Northwestern, Luijten was an associate professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Department of Physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a fellow of the American Physical Society and a recipient of several awards, including the Xerox Award for faculty research and a CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation. He earned B.S./M.S. degrees in physics from Utrecht University in The Netherlands and a Ph.D. in applied physics from Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands.

Luijten lives in Evanston and is engaged to Dima Awad, a healthcare executive. He is the proud father to Hildegard, Benjamin and Sophie, who passed away in 2022, and devoted stepfather to Jude and Norah. He and his fiancée also co-parent their beloved dog, Charlie.