Director, The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Agora Institute at InsideHigherEd

Johns Hopkins University seeks the next director of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute, an effort to address the deterioration of civic engagement in democracies worldwide and restore open and inclusive discourse that is the cornerstone of healthy democracies.Established in 2017 with a seminal $150 million grant from SNF and housed in the University’s Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, the SNF Agora Institute serves as a leading academic and public forum bringing together experts from a range of fields—including political science, sociology, history, public health, and international studies—to examine democratic erosion and design and test mechanisms for improving dialogue, social engagement, and democratic governance.The Johns Hopkins University was founded as the nation’s first research university on the principle that pursuing big ideas and sharing knowledge make the world a better place. The University has approximately 6,500 faculty, 6,200 undergraduate students, and 17,600 graduate students arrayed across 260 degree programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels. Perennially ranked as the nation’s leader in annual research expenditures, the University has consistently achieved this standard through excellent academic leadership, committed faculty and students, innovative international programs, high levels of collegiality, and exceptional interdisciplinary collaboration.The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is one of the world’s leading private, international philanthropic organizations, making grants to nonprofit organizations in the areas of arts and culture, education, health and sports, and social welfare. SNF supports organizations and projects worldwide that aim to achieve a broad, lasting, and positive impact for society at large and exhibit strong leadership and sound management.With ideological gaps wider today than at any point in recent history, the Institute’s second director will have an extraordinary opportunity to continue building this center for analysis, experimentation, and dialogue when such efforts are urgently needed. Building upon the work of inaugural director Hahrie Han, the director will guide the Institute’s efforts to examine divisive trends from multiple perspectives, develop innovative and impactful reforms, engage students in research, training and discourse, and ensure that lessons learned are shared to elevate open discussion and debate on critical issues of our time.The ideal candidate will be an academic thought leader of the highest caliber—someone whose scholarship is influential in their field and who actively engages in broader discourse. They will stand at the intersection of intellectual scholarship and practice. Equally important, they will be an inspiring teacher and mentor, engaging undergraduate and graduate students in the life of the Institute and cultivating the next generation of civic leaders.The director will position the Institute as an influential presence in the public arena, actively shaping discourse on democratic challenges through media engagement, policy advisory work, and partnerships with practitioners and civic leaders. The Institute’s impact depends on its ability to serve as a trusted, nonpartisan resource for policymakers, journalists, and civic organizations navigating complex democratic questions. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated success in translating scholarship into actionable insights for broad public audiences and will bring the commitment and skill to ensure that the Institute’s work meaningfully influences civic debates and democratic practice beyond academic circles.The anticipated salary range for this role is $375,000 - $450,000. The referenced salary range represents the minimum and maximum salaries for this position and is based on Johns Hopkins University's good faith belief at the time of posting.Johns Hopkins University has retained Heidrick & Struggles to support the search for the Institute’s director. Please send recommendations, nominations, and questions, in confidence, to [email protected] search will continue until the director is appointed, but in order to receive the most thorough consideration, candidates should submit their materials (CV and cover letter as separate PDF files) as soon as possible.