Erik Luijten Appointed as Northwestern University’s New Provost

Erik Luijten has been appointed as the new provost of Northwestern University, as announced by Interim President Henry Bienen. Luijten, who currently serves as the Associate Dean for Research and Doctoral Education at the McCormick School of Engineering, will collaborate with outgoing Provost Kathleen Hagerty in a transitional period before officially taking on his new role.

Background and Academic Leadership

Luijten has contributed over 17 years to Northwestern, during which he has held various leadership positions. His responsibilities have included managing research administration, overseeing research development, and leading the Ph.D. programs in Northwestern Engineering since 2023. As a professor of Materials Science and Engineering, he has championed interdisciplinary scholarship across multiple disciplines.

• Focused on collaboration with the Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts and Northwestern’s Prison Education Program.
• Recognized for his ability to turn institutional priorities into actionable policies supporting faculty and students.

Vision for Northwestern

Luijten expressed his honor at being selected for this leadership role and highlighted Northwestern’s pivotal moment in its institutional trajectory. He emphasized the importance of enhancing the university’s national and global standing in education and research. Luijten stated,

“I believe that disciplined strategic investments in faculty excellence, research infrastructure, and the student experience will ensure Northwestern maintains its lead in emerging fields.”

Search Committee Insights

Francesca Cornelli, dean of the Kellogg School of Management and chair of the Provost Search Committee, noted that Luijten was chosen from a pool of exceptional candidates. She commended his commitment to interdisciplinary study and excellence.

Provost Responsibilities

As the chief academic officer, Luijten will report to the university president and collaborate with deans, faculty, and staff. His role will involve guiding the academic direction of 12 schools and various operational units that drive Northwestern’s mission in education and research.

Academic Credentials

Before his tenure at Northwestern, Luijten served as an associate professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He holds several prestigious accolades, including:

• Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Fellow of the American Physical Society
• Xerox Award for faculty research
• CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation

He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in physics from Utrecht University and a Ph.D. in applied physics from Delft University of Technology, both in the Netherlands.

Personal Life

Luijten is a resident of Evanston, where he lives with his fiancée Dima Awad, a healthcare executive. He is a father to Hildegard, Benjamin, and the late Sophie, and a devoted stepfather to Jude and Norah. Together, they share their life with a dog named Charlie.