Congratulations to Dr. Alan Tarr on his Appointment as a Board of Governors Professor (Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014)

Dear Colleagues:

I am pleased to report that the Rutgers Board of Governors has named Dr. G. Alan Tarr as a Board of Governors Professor of Political Science during yesterday’s regularly scheduled meeting.

This is a signature career achievement for Alan, and a point of pride for our campus.  Alan’s expertise in the area of the development of democratic constitutions is respected globally.  He has presented his insights to state Supreme Courts and legislatures across our nation and, under the auspices of such organizations as the U.S. Department of State, around the world.  He has promoted the growth of democracy worldwide by advising governments transitioning to democratic rule, including South Africa, Myanmar, and Russia.

His work has appeared in prominent legal and scholarly journals, as well as in multiple books.  He has edited or co-edited such volumes as State Constitutions for the Twenty-First Century, as well as the 50-volume State Constitutions of the United States published by Oxford University Press.  He has co-authored the highly utilized textbooks American Constitutional Law: Cases and Interpretations and Judicial Process and Judicial Policymaking.

Along with Prof. Robert Williams (professor II, CLAW), Alan created the Center for State Constitutional Studies as one of the earliest research centers at Rutgers–Camden.  He has contributed greatly toward the impressive reputation of our campus thanks to the collaborative, multidisciplinary work of that center.

Alan’s recognition as a leading authority in his field has commanded grant funding from such highly competitive entities as the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Ford Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation.  He is honored this year as a Fellow in the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University and is a past recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship for Research.

Perhaps of greatest significance are the many alumni, students, and colleagues who know Alan as a thoughtful teacher and supportive mentor.  The profound impact of Alan’s teaching has transformed many lives, and we look forward to continuing that tradition.

Please join me in offering our warmest congratulations to Alan Tarr on this richly deserved accomplishment.

Wendell E. Pritchett, J.D., Ph.D.

Chancellor