Born in Germany, Daniel Diermeier witnessed firsthand the fall of the Berlin Wall. A first-generation college graduate, today he is a distinguished political scientist and management scholar. Diermeier earned both a master’s degree and a PhD in political science from the University of Rochester. He also holds master’s degrees from the University of Munich and the University of Southern California. A prominent figure in academia, in 2020 Diermeier was named chancellor of Vanderbilt University, where he has reaffirmed the university’s commitment to free speech and principled neutrality. To Diermeier, “the university must be a proving ground for free expression and civil discourse. In this moment of political polarization in the United States and around the world, universities might be the last best place where people can learn to converse and cooperate with those who see things differently.” Prior to Vanderbilt, Diermeier taught at Stanford University and Northwestern University, as well as at the University of Chicago, where he also served as both provost and dean of the Harris School of Public Policy. As a university administrator, he has spearheaded transformative initiatives and fostered a culture of academic excellence and inclusion.
With his extensive experience working across disciplines, throughout his career Diermeier has been a sought-after advisor for corporations and government entities, including the University of Chicago Medical Center, Argonne National Laboratory, the Civic Consulting Alliance, the National Opinion Research Center, the Field Museum, the management board of the FBI, and the International Paralympic Committee, among many others. A fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Guggenheim Foundation, Diermeier has published five books and more than 100 research articles in academic journals on a wide range of topics.
Twitter: @VU_chancellor
