Carissa Schively Slotterback

Carissa Schively Slotterback is the Dean and Professor at the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA). She leads strategic initiatives including curriculum development, faculty recruitment, and the University's Year of Discourse and Dialogue. Her research focuses on stakeholder engagement in environmental and land-use policy, emphasizing how communities perceive impacts and utilize information in decision-making. She previously held roles at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School, including Associate Dean and director of interdisciplinary initiatives like the Resilient Communities Project.

Education:

• PhD, Urban and Regional Planning, Florida State University
• Master of Urban and Regional Planning, Clemson University
• BA Individualized Study, Winona State University

Her research interests span environmental policy, public engagement mechanisms, transportation planning, and collaborative decision-making. Recent work explores immigrant community integration in urban contexts and the evolution of public engagement from traditional citizen participation models.

Leadership Roles:

• Treasurer, Association of Professional Schools in International Affairs
• Member, NASPAA Executive Committee
• Steering Committee, Dean’s Summit
• Former Vice President, Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning

Awards:

• Member of the National Academy of Public Administration (2024)
• Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners (2018)

Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, with notable projects like the Resilient Communities Project and the Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities initiative. Current efforts focus on institutionalizing public engagement in academia and policy contexts.