Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Coatsworth Named Permanent SIPA Dean
After a year as acting dean of the School of International and Public Affairs, John Coatsworth has been named to the position permanently, University President Lee Bollinger announced in an email Tuesday afternoon.
Coatsworth, a renowned scholar of the economic history of Latin America, took over as acting dean in the summer of 2007 while a committee searched for a permanent replacement for former dean Lisa Anderson.
He became well-known outside of academic circles early in his tenure when he brought Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to campus last October for a controversial speaking appearance. Coatsworth was assailed by many political pundits for hosting such a politically controversial figure, but he was also praised by many at Columbia for his calm handling of the event...
Anderson had tried to invite Ahmadinejad previously. Coatsworth would literally have invited Hitler to speak.
As noted previously at this Israpundit post, Columbia appoints another anti-Israel Dean, Coatsworth is yet another signatory to a divest from Israel petition, and praised the efforts of anti-Israel librarian David Williams.
No wonder he was given the permanent position. He fits in perfectly.
Update: BTW, Coatsworth's predecessor, Lisa Anderson, has recently been named provost of the American University in Cairo.
