Anthony Smith Appointed Dean of Social Science at Yale

Anthony Smith has been appointed as the new dean of social science in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) at Yale University. The announcement was made by FAS Dean Steven Wilkinson, who informed the FAS community that Smith will begin his five-year term on January 1, 2026. He succeeds Alan Gerber, who has been serving as acting dean since July 1, 2025.

Gerber took over the role following the departure of Ken Scheve, who held the deanship from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2025 before becoming dean of the College of Arts & Letters at the University of Notre Dame. Gerber will now return to his primary responsibilities as a faculty member and as director of the Institution for Social and Policy Studies.

Smith, who has been a part of Yale’s faculty since 2003, has an extensive background in macroeconomics and econometrics. He currently holds the position of William K. Lanman, Jr. Professor of Economics and Professor of Management. Over his tenure at Yale, Smith has undertaken significant leadership roles, including chairing the Department of Economics from 2019 to 2025. Under his leadership, the department made strides in faculty recruitment and retention.

Leadership and Contributions at Yale

In addition to his departmental leadership, Smith has actively participated in various university-wide committees, such as the Teaching and Learning Committee and the Data Science Advisory Committee. He also served as Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Economics from 2010 to 2013 and chaired the Committee on the Economic Status of the Faculty from 2016 to 2019.

Wilkinson expressed optimism about Smith’s appointment, stating, “I look forward to working with Tony to continue strengthening our outstanding social science departments, and to advance the initiatives that build our capacity in the data-intensive social sciences and in the applied research that addresses critical social and policy problems.”

Beyond his responsibilities at Yale, Smith is a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research and has held editorial positions at leading economics journals. His research spans various domains, including macroeconomics, where he has developed computational methods to analyze models that highlight income and wealth inequality. Smith has also integrated behavioral economics into macroeconomic models, examining self-control issues in economic contexts.

Research Focus and Future Projects

Recently, Smith’s research has concentrated on the nexus of macroeconomics, climate science, and environmental economics. He collaborates with climate scientists to create high-resolution models examining the interplay between the economy and climate systems. Notably, in 2024, Smith’s team was awarded a grant from Yale Planetary Solutions for an interdisciplinary project titled “A Global, High-Resolution, Integrated Model of the Economy, Climate, and Weather,” which is set to run until March 2026.

Wilkinson also acknowledged the valuable insights provided by the FAS Dean of Social Science Advisory Committee during the selection process, highlighting their role in consulting with a broad range of faculty across the FAS and the university.

As Smith prepares to take on his new role, his extensive experience and commitment to advancing social science research will likely have a significant impact on Yale’s academic community and beyond.