The University of Michigan International Institute, together with its 16 centers and programs, announces leadership appointments effective July 1, 2025. We welcome both newly appointed and continuing directors who will guide the Institute’s academic, research, and outreach initiatives.

At the institute level, Professor Johannes von Moltke will continue to serve as interim director through December 31, 2025. Beginning January 1, 2026, Professor Youngju Ryu will assume the role of director of the International Institute.

New Directors

Juhn Ahn, director of the Nam Center for Korean Studies; associate professor of Buddhist and Korean studies

Kathryn Babayan, director of the Armenian Studies Center; professor of history

Kevin Carr, interim director of graduate studies; associate professor of history of art

Doug Northrop, acting director of the Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia; professor of history and Middle East studies

Łukasz Stanek, acting director of the Copernicus Center for Polish Studies; professor of architectural history

Continuing Directors

Gavin Arnall, director of the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies; associate professor of Romance languages and literatures

Omolade Adunbi, director of the African Studies Center; professor of Afroamerican and African studies, anthropology, and law (courtesy) (returning after sabbatical)

Jay Crisostomo, director of the Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies; George G. Cameron Professor of Ancient Near Eastern Civilization and Languages and Civilizations (transitioning from interim director)

Matthew Hull, director of the Center for South Asian Studies; associate professor of anthropology (returning after sabbatical)

Elizabeth J. King, director of the Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies; associate professor of health behavior and health equity

Aliyah Khan, director of the Global Islamic Studies Center; associate professor of English and Afroamerican and African studies

Ann Lin, director of the Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies; Richard H. Rogel Professor of Chinese Studies; associate professor of public policy and political science (returning after sabbatical)

Mike McGovern, director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies; professor of anthropology

Steven Ratner, director of the Donia Human Rights Center; Bruno Simma Collegiate Professor of Law

Denise Saint Arnault, director of the Center for Japanese Studies; professor of health behavior and biological sciences

Melanie Schulze Tanielian, director of the Program in International and Comparative Studies; director of undergraduate studies; associate professor of history

Dan Slater, director of the Center for Emerging Democracies; James Orin Murfin Professor of Political Science