What you’ll learn in this article…
- Slotterback begins as Watts College dean on October 1, 2026.
- Watts College students contribute over 500,000 community service hours annually.
- ASU’s School of Public Affairs ranks #9 nationally for public affairs.
On July 1, 2026, Arizona State University announced that Dr. Carissa Slotterback will become dean of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, effective October 1.1 Her arrival at the helm of the nation’s largest comprehensive public affairs college signals more than a leadership transition; it reinforces a national trend toward community-engaged scholarship as the core of public administration education.
Slotterback’s career, from first-generation student to dean at the University of Pittsburgh, centers on participatory planning and interdisciplinary program design. For students in Watts College’s No. 9-ranked School of Public Affairs, her appointment aligns with the growing expectation that public administration training must produce graduates who can build collaboration and translate research into practice immediately.
Who Is Carissa Slotterback? A Leader in Public Engagement and Planning
How does Carissa Slotterback’s experience prepare her to lead a college dedicated to public service? Her career is a blueprint for bridging academic training with community impact, exactly the model Watts College embodies.
From First-Generation Student to National Academy Fellow
Slotterback’s path into public affairs started as a first-generation college student,1 a journey that shaped her commitment to accessible, practice-oriented education. She earned a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida State University in 2004,1 with research anchored in public engagement and stakeholder collaboration. That focus has animated her entire career: she studies how governments, nonprofits, and communities can work together more effectively on planning and policy decisions. Her scholarship includes influential work on Arnstein’s Ladder of citizen participation,2 and in 2024 she was named a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration,2 a recognition reserved for the nation’s most accomplished public administration practitioners and scholars.
Building Career Pathways Through Community-Engaged Learning
Slotterback’s leadership roles consistently amplify hands-on, interdisciplinary training. As dean of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Public and International Affairs since 2020, she launched a program modeled on the Next Generation Service Corps, creating a pipeline for students to tackle real-world public problems through cross-sector collaboration. Earlier, at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs, she served as associate dean and directed the urban and regional planning program, and in 2012 co-founded the Resilient Communities Project2 , an initiative that embeds student teams in local governments, a university local government partnership model, to solve practical challenges. That model of co-learning gave hundreds of students direct experience in public service delivery.
Research Grounded in Collaboration and Public Participation
Her academic work consistently examines how public engagement can move beyond tokenism. A 2019 publication revisited Arnstein’s 1969 framework, synthesizing five decades of planning scholarship to identify what meaningful participation requires. At Pitt, she currently co-leads the Year of Discourse and Dialogue,1 an effort to foster constructive conversation across ideological divides, a skill set directly relevant to governance today.
These experiences align seamlessly with Watts College’s mission: producing use-inspired research, prioritizing community partnerships, and preparing graduates to lead in public service. Slotterback takes the helm with a record of turning those principles into programs.
Inside ASU’s Watts College: Structure, Rankings, and Public Affairs Powerhouse
The Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions at Arizona State University stands as a premier hub for public service education, housing multiple schools that collectively address the full spectrum of societal needs. Its organizational design integrates academic rigor with practical training across four key areas, preparing students for leadership in government, nonprofit, and community-facing roles.
The Schools That Make Up Watts College
Watts College comprises four distinct schools, each contributing a critical piece to the public service puzzle. The School of Public Affairs offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in public administration, public policy, and urban management. The School of Social Work delivers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees focused on clinical practice, community engagement, and social justice. The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice provides comprehensive education from undergraduate through graduate levels, emphasizing crime analysis, law enforcement, and corrections. Rounding out the college, the School of Community Resources and Development specializes in nonprofit leadership, parks and recreation management, tourism, and community development, adding an interdisciplinary layer that strengthens the college’s applied mission.
National Rankings That Set Watts College Apart
This structure is backed by exceptional national recognition. According to U.S. News & World Report, the School of Public Affairs ranks No. 9 among the best public affairs graduate schools overall.1 The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice holds the No. 2 spot for its doctoral program, while the School of Social Work’s graduate program is ranked 20th.1 These accolades are not isolated: half of ASU’s top-10 ranked programs are housed within Watts College.2 Such concentrated distinction cements the college’s reputation as a destination for students pursuing careers where policy, safety, and well-being intersect.
A Powerhouse for Public Service Education
Beyond rankings, the college’s influence is amplified by more than 20 research centers, including the Morrison Institute for Public Policy and the Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation.3 Situated on ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus,4 the college is embedded in a vibrant urban environment that fosters partnerships with state agencies, city governments, and community organizations. The dean’s role extends across these schools and centers, shaping curricula, research agendas, and external collaborations. This expansive scope means leadership decisions directly affect how public servants are trained to address real-world challenges, from emergency management to social equity.
Watts College students collectively contribute more than 500,000 hours of community service annually, reflecting the college's deep commitment to hands-on public engagement. This experiential focus complements the academic excellence of programs like the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, whose doctoral program is ranked No. 2 in the nation.
What Does the Dean of Watts College Do? Responsibilities and Strategic Scope
The role of a public affairs college dean is evolving from a traditional academic administrator into a catalyst for community-embedded impact. At Arizona State University's Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, the largest comprehensive public affairs college in the nation, the dean shoulders a breadth of responsibilities that shape education, research, and public engagement across Arizona and beyond.
Core Administrative Responsibilities
Serving as the college's chief executive, the dean reports directly to the university provost4 and oversees all academic programs, faculty, and staff. Day-to-day duties span budget and finance, personnel decisions, and marketing and communications.1 With 7,000 students, four distinct schools, and 25 to 30 research centers, the dean must align resources to sustain $34 million in annual research expenditures while advancing strategic priorities.1 The dean chairs the College Executive Council and presides over the College Assembly, ensuring shared governance and transparency.2
External Engagement and Partnerships
A central mandate is cultivating relationships outside the university. The dean represents Watts College with federal, state, and community partners, applying federal state partnership best practices, as well as alumni and donors.4 This external work drives fundraising, which has more than doubled in recent years,1 and fuels socially embedded initiatives that connect classroom learning with real-world problem solving.3 The dean's leadership in community engagement directly influences the college's ability to place students in public administration jobs across government agencies, nonprofits, and private sector roles.
Shaping Academic Vision
Beyond administration, the dean sets the intellectual and strategic direction. This includes catalyzing interdisciplinary research initiatives that address pressing societal challenges, from public safety to social welfare.4 By guiding curriculum innovation, including rethinking MPP and MPA curricula, and faculty hiring, the dean ensures programs remain responsive to workforce needs and advances the college's reputation as a top-ranked destination for public service education. The dean's vision ultimately determines how public affairs, social work, and criminology education at ASU will influence policy and practice for decades.
Slotterback’s Strategic Vision: Engaged Scholarship and Interdisciplinary Innovation
Carissa Slotterback’s strategic vision for Watts College centers on deepening community-engaged scholarship and weaving interdisciplinary collaboration directly into the student experience, a direction she has championed throughout her career.
Building on a Track Record of Collaborative Research
Slotterback’s research has long focused on public engagement processes and collaborative decision-making, spanning urban and regional planning, environmental sustainability, and transportation.1 At the University of Minnesota, she co-founded the Resilient Communities Project and served as Director of Research Engagement, roles that connected academic expertise directly with community needs.2 Her philosophy emphasizes elevating community knowledge and capacity,3 suggesting that at ASU she will strengthen existing partnerships while developing new ways for students and faculty to produce use-inspired research.
Expanding Service-Learning and Civic Preparation
While at the University of Pittsburgh, Slotterback drew inspiration from the Next Generation Service Corps to create a similar program, embedding civic purpose into the undergraduate experience.3 This track record points to a likely expansion of service-learning pipelines at Watts College. As a member of College Presidents for Civic Preparedness and chair of the National Deans Summit, she brings a national network focused on bridging divides and engaging across difference. Her emphasis on civic discourse as central to the university’s mission, a key public service leadership lesson, aligns with Watts College’s strategic priority to tap into students’ motivation to do good while in school, ensuring that classroom theory meets real-world impact.
Interdisciplinarity as a Strategic Lever
Slotterback has described interdisciplinarity as essential for solving complex public problems and a strategic lever for institutional impact.3 Her leadership profile, forged at both Pitt and Minnesota, foregrounds diversity, inclusion, and collaboration across sectors. At ASU, a university defined by its charter commitment to access and impact, this approach will likely translate into cross-school initiatives that break down silos between public affairs, social work, criminology, and community resources.3 Her past success in building relationships and deepening collaboration suggests new joint programs and research clusters are on the horizon.
Concrete Priorities on the Horizon
Though Slotterback has not yet announced a detailed Watts College agenda, her recent accomplishments indicate clear directions. At Pitt, she led the development of an undergraduate public policy program; similar undergraduate expansion at ASU could create new pathways for students.4 Her network, including chairship of the National Deans Summit, may bring high-level policy labs, undergraduate research opportunities, and community partnerships to Watts College. Expect her first year to focus on listening tours and relationship-building before rolling out formal initiatives, but her history leaves little doubt that engaged, interdisciplinary public service education will be the cornerstone.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Do you seek a program where your research directly serves community needs?
Slotterback’s leadership emphasizes use-inspired scholarship that bridges theory and practice, meaning your coursework could have immediate public impact.
Are you drawn to learning across public service fields like policy, criminal justice, and social work?
Watts College houses multiple top-ranked schools under one college, creating opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration and a holistic view of public administration.
Do you want to graduate with hands-on experience through programs like the Next Generation Service Corps?
Slotterback expanded similar initiatives at Pitt, signaling that Watts will deepen its commitment to applied training that prepares you for leadership roles.
What This Means for MPA/MPP Students: Hands-On Learning and Career Pathways
Degree Options Tailored for Public Service Careers
Arizona State University offers a range of public administration programs through its School of Public Affairs within Watts College. The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a 42-credit program featuring concentrations in emergency management, nonprofit administration, public finance, and urban management.2 Delivery formats include in-person classes, iCourses, weekend-intensive sessions, and ASU SYNC, with locations in Downtown Phoenix and Hainan.3 While the MPA is not a fully online degree, most core courses are available online each semester,4 and the next start date for online courses is August 20, 2026.5 Students can enroll full-time or part-time.6 A Master of Public Policy (MPP) is also offered, including an accelerated option.7 For undergraduates, accelerated MPA/MPP pathways are available for majors in Public Service and Public Policy (BS), Political Science (BA or BS), and Construction Management and Technology (BS), allowing a seamless transition to graduate study.7
Community-Engaged Learning Already in Motion
Watts College has long integrated hands-on learning into its curriculum. Students participate in policy labs, service learning, and community partnerships that apply classroom knowledge to real-world public challenges. These experiences connect learners with local governments, nonprofits, and public agencies, building practical skills while serving community needs. Under new leadership, these initiatives are poised for growth.
Slotterback’s Track Record Signals Deeper Engagement
Carissa Slotterback’s career has focused on collaborative public engagement and community-focused research. At the University of Pittsburgh, she created a program similar to the Next Generation Service Corps, bridging academic training with professional practice.9 Her scholarship emphasizes inclusive participation and building partnerships. This background suggests she will prioritize use-inspired research and expand community-connected projects at Watts College, giving students more opportunities to work directly with stakeholders on pressing societal issues.
Better Preparation for Government, Nonprofit, and Social Impact Roles
For MPA and MPP students, this direction means enhanced career readiness for careers in public administration. Hands-on projects, mentorship from practitioner faculty, and exposure to interdisciplinary problem-solving strengthen graduates for roles in government, nonprofit management, and social impact. With top-ranked programs and a dean committed to engaged scholarship, students can expect a curriculum that not only teaches theory but also builds the practical competencies needed to drive meaningful change.
Timeline and Transition: From Pittsburgh to Phoenix
Leadership transitions at major public administration colleges always raise a question: will momentum stall or will fresh vision accelerate progress? For students and faculty at Arizona State University's Watts College, the shift from Cynthia Lietz to Carissa Slotterback is designed to be seamless, with a clear timeline and a steady hand guiding the interim period.
Key Dates in the Leadership Transition
The transition timeline has been public since early summer 2026, giving the community ample time to prepare. ASU announced Slotterback's appointment on July 1, 2026.1 Her last day as dean of the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh was August 3, 2026.2 She officially steps into the Watts College deanship on October 1, 2026.1 This schedule creates a deliberate gap of roughly two months, allowing for an orderly handoff at both institutions and giving Slotterback time to relocate and acclimate before taking the helm.
Outgoing Dean Cynthia Lietz: A Decade of Administrative Service
Lietz served as vice dean of Watts College from 2016 to 2021 and then as dean from 2021 to 2026, totaling a decade in leadership roles. During her tenure, the college maintained its position as a public affairs powerhouse: the School of Public Affairs held a No. 9 national ranking, the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice's doctoral program ranked No. 2, and the School of Social Work's graduate program ranked 20th. Lietz guided the college through a period of growing enrollment and deepened community partnerships. She now returns to the faculty as a President's Professor in the School of Social Work, ensuring that her institutional knowledge remains accessible to colleagues and students.1
What to Expect Between July and October
From July through September, the college operates under existing leadership structures. While ASU has not announced a formal interim dean, associate deans and senior staff will maintain continuity in academic programming, admissions processes, and research projects. Day-to-day operations, including fall semester course delivery, advising, and student support services, will proceed without interruption. Faculty search committees and grant-funded research continue on schedule. This is standard practice at large universities; the college's strategic priorities, such as enrollment growth, remain on track.
Looking Ahead: Slotterback's First 100 Days
Once Slotterback arrives in October, her initial focus will likely center on listening and learning. Her research on public engagement processes1 suggests she values deep dialogue with diverse stakeholders. Students and faculty can anticipate a period of relationship-building: meetings with school directors, student leaders, and external partners to understand Watts College's culture and community ties. While new initiatives may not roll out immediately, her track record of co-creating academic programs, like the Next Generation Service Corps at Pitt, points to an eventual push for even more hands-on, interdisciplinary experiences. By spring 2027, the college should have a clearer picture of her strategic priorities.
Key Questions Answered: What Searchers Want to Know
Carissa Slotterback’s appointment as dean of Watts College raises important questions for current and prospective public administration students. Below we provide clear, factual answers based on official announcements and institutional data, and point you to the most reliable sources for further detail.
Who is Carissa Slotterback?
Carissa Slotterback is an experienced academic leader and researcher specializing in public engagement and collaborative planning. She most recently served as dean of the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh. A first-generation college student, she has built a career linking academic training to professional practice through community-engaged learning and use-inspired research.
What is Watts College at ASU?
The Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions at Arizona State University houses several highly ranked schools, including the School of Public Affairs (ranked No. 9 nationally for public affairs graduate programs by U.S. News & World Report), the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (doctoral program ranked No. 2), and the School of Social Work (graduate program ranked No. 20). Its mission is to prepare students for public service careers through interdisciplinary education and direct community impact.
What does the dean of Watts College do?
The dean provides strategic leadership for the college, overseeing academic programs, faculty development, research initiatives, and partnerships. Responsibilities include guiding curriculum innovation, securing resources, and representing the college to external stakeholders. For a full overview of the dean’s role, visit the Watts College official website.
How will Carissa Slotterback change public administration education at ASU?
Slotterback is expected to strengthen the college’s emphasis on community-engaged scholarship and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her track record includes creating a program similar to the Next Generation Service Corps, which integrates academic coursework with public service internships. This signals expanded opportunities for hands-on learning and research that directly addresses societal needs.
What are ASU’s public administration program rankings?
Within Watts College, the School of Public Affairs is ranked No. 9 by U.S. News & World Report for best public affairs graduate schools overall. Additional rankings include the criminology doctoral program at No. 2 and the social work graduate program at No. 20. For the latest rankings and program details, check the ASU Watts College website.
When does Carissa Slotterback start as dean of Watts College?
Her tenure officially begins on October 1, 2026. The appointment was announced by ASU on July 1 of this year.
How much does an MPA at ASU cost?
MPA tuition and fees vary based on residency status, campus, and enrollment mode. For the most current figures, contact ASU Admissions or the Financial Aid office directly. They can provide a personalized estimate and information on available scholarships or assistantships.
Is the Watts College MPA program accredited?
Public administration programs often seek accreditation through the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). To verify accreditation or compare programs nationwide, consult our resource on NASPAA accreditation MPA.
What is the job outlook for public administration graduates?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov) offers authoritative data on employment projections, typical salaries, and educational requirements for public administration and related fields. BLS data can help you assess long term demand and earnings potential without relying on promotional materials.
