The chair is named in honour of the Indian economist, philosopher and Nobel laureate, who served as Professor of Economics at LSE from 1971 to 1982. LSE is seeking a driven, dynamic and compelling leader who will apply intellectual vision and expertise in shaping the future of the III, LSE’s flagship initiative focused on studying and challenging one of the most pressing issues of our time.
LSE Director Minouche Shafik said: “The International Inequalities Institute is a living embodiment of the School’s enduring commitment to working for the betterment of society through research, education and public engagement. In naming this chair after Amartya Sen, we recognise one of the world’s great thinkers on social equity. We look forward to appointing an outstanding person to lead the work of the Institute as it continues to to deliver sustainable and meaningful benefits to people and global communities.”
As Director, the post-holder will have experience operating at a global scale, and will both conduct and lead outstanding inequalities-related research. The post-holder will also have oversight of the III's high-profile teaching programmes, including the MSc Inequalities and Social Science and the III doctoral programme, and will contribute to the institute's flagship Atlantic Fellows for Socialand Economic Equity programme.
The inauguration of the Amartya Sen Chair marks a further milestone for the III, following the 2016 launch of the Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity programme, backed by a historic £64 million, 20-year gift by The Atlantic Philanthropies, the School’s largest to date.
The III’s new Director will take over the leadership of the institute from Professor Mike Savage, who will return full-time to the Martin White Chair in Sociology at LSE. Professor Savage and Professor Sir John Hills, who holds the Richard Titmuss Chair in Social Policy, were inaugural co-directors of the III, which launched in 2015.
Applications for the post of Director of the III closed on 18 May 2019. News of the appointee will be announced in the weeks to come.