Beginning this fall, Yale political scientist Bonnie Weir will join the Jackson School community as its assistant dean for undergraduate education.
While she’s new to the role, Jackson is a familiar place. Weir — a senior lecturer of political science and founding co-director of the Program on Peace and Development at Yale — has previously taught Global Affairs cross-listed courses, collaborated with the World Fellows program, and organized several conferences with Jackson School faculty and programs.
“I love Jackson’s interdisciplinarity, since I think that the most important questions that we confront as concerned global citizens require responses informed by multiple disciplines,” says Weir.
Weir says she’s excited to be joining Jackson during the early stages of its transition to a professional school. “I think there’s a chance for students and faculty to build something together — whether it be curricular, programmatic, or institutional — in addition to strengthening Jackson’s already amazing community.”
Previously, Weir served as director of undergraduate studies at Yale’s Program on Ethics, Politics, and Economics. At Jackson, Weir will work closely with undergraduate Global Affairs majors, advising and mentoring them with “an open-door policy.”
“Yale students tend to be so driven and smart that often they just need some reassurance and encouragement,” says Weir. “I’ve advised many global affairs majors before, and they were undoubtedly among the best students I’ve met. I’m very excited to get the opportunity to work more closely with them.”
In the spring, Weir will teach a Global Affairs course, GLBL289, “War and Peace in Northern Ireland,” which covers the decades-long conflict in the country and the successes and failures of the Good Friday Agreement. Weir also teaches courses on civil conflict and terrorism. Her current research focuses on the effect of sectarianism on political behavior and the consequences of minority rights provisions.