Rate My Professor Matthew Auer

Matthew R. Auer serves as Dean of the School of Public and International Affairs and Arch Professor of Public and International Affairs at the University of Georgia, where the school encompasses the Department of Political Science among its academic units. He holds an AB magna cum laude in Anthropology from Harvard University (1988), a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University’s Fletcher School (1990), and both an MS (1994) and PhD (1996) in Forestry and Environmental Studies from Yale University. Auer launched his academic career at Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs, progressing from assistant professor (1996–2002) to associate professor (2002–2006) and professor (2006–2013). During this period, he directed undergraduate programs (2006–2008), boosting enrollment by over 25%, and then led the Hutton Honors College as dean (2008–2013), managing 4,200 students and securing more than $1.6 million in private funds. From 2013 to 2017, he was Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of the Faculty, and Professor of Environmental Studies at Bates College, overseeing academic operations for 1,800 students, advancing faculty diversity initiatives, and contributing to multimillion-dollar grants. Since 2017 at UGA, Auer has driven SPIA’s growth, including a 25% enrollment increase, $16 million in fundraising, new majors like BS in Political Science, minors in International Affairs and Human Rights and Security, and enhanced experiential learning programs.

Auer’s scholarship centers on environmental policy, forest policy, energy policy, policy processes, environmental communication, and foreign aid. Notable publications include his book Restoring Cursed Earth: Appraising Environmental Policy Reforms in Central and Eastern Europe and Russia (Rowman & Littlefield, 2004); “Income and Insurability as Factors in Wildfire Risk” (Forests, 2022); “Considering Equity in Wildfire Protection” (Sustainability Science, 2021); “The Policy Sciences of Social Media” (Policy Studies Journal, 2011); and “Who Participates in Global Environmental Governance? Partial Answers from International Relations Theory” (Policy Sciences, 2000). His work has earned the Harold D. Lasswell Prize (2010) for the top Policy Sciences article, Myres McDougal Prize (2001), Highly Commended Paper from Emerald Group Publishing (2011), and Fellow status in the National Academy of Public Administration (2023). Auer edited Policy Sciences as Editor-in-Chief (2005–2008) and has served on its international editorial board since 1999. He has garnered teaching accolades such as Indiana University’s President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (2005) and Trustee Teaching Awards (2005, 2002, 2001).