Chenoweth, Marks named faculty deans of Pforzheimer House

Danoff Dean of Harvard College Rakesh Khurana has announced the appointment of Erica Chenoweth and Zoe Marks as the new faculty deans of Pforzheimer House. They will begin their new roles on July 1. 

Chenoweth is the Frank Stanton Professor of the First Amendment at Harvard Kennedy School and Susan S. and Kenneth L. Wallach Professor at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute. Marks is a lecturer in public policy at HKS. 

“I have been struck by Erica’s and Zoe’s warmth and thoughtful nature, their kindness, and their commitment to building a sense of inclusion and belonging in everything they do,” Khurana said. “They are thrilled to be joining the Pfoho community, and I am thrilled to welcome them.” 

Both have been members of the Harvard community since 2018. Chenoweth studies political violence and its alternatives. They have authored or edited nine books and many articles on mass movements, nonviolent resistance, terrorism, political violence, revolutions, and state repression.  

Marks works at the intersections of conflict and peacebuilding; gender and intersectional inequality; and African politics. She is currently working on two books, including one with Chenoweth, and has worked in Ethiopia, France, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and the UK. They will live in Pforzheimer House with their daughter Vera. 

“We are so humbled and thrilled to be joining Pfoho’s thriving community, with its reputation for inclusivity and its joyful and supportive house culture,” Chenoweth and Marks noted. “We hope to be of service to everyone in the house, to be visible and accessible to all, and to help keep Pfoho’s beloved traditions and culture thriving.” 

In his message to the Pforzheimer community announcing the new deans, Khurana thanked the Faculty Dean Search Advisory Committee for their time and energy leading the search. 

“We were fortunate to have garnered interest in this role from truly remarkable faculty colleagues, which served as a reminder of the importance of our unique residential system to the fulfillment of our mission of transformative education,” Khurana said.  

Khurana also expressed gratitude for departing Faculty Deans Anne Harrington and John Durant for their 10 years of service to the Pfoho community, noting their “unwavering devotion to making every single student and staff member feel at home.”