May 25, 2005—Harry Hirsch, a distinguished political scientist who has taught and published in the fields of constitutional law, modern political theory, and gender and sexuality, has been named dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of politics at Oberlin College. His appointment begins July 1.

Hirsch currently is the G. Theodore Mitau Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Macalester College. His major publications include The Enigma of Felix Frankfurter, A Theory of Liberty: The Constitution and Minorities, and the forthcoming edited volume The Future of Gay Rights in America. He has also written a number of articles on the First Amendment, gay rights, and the Supreme Court.

“Harry Hirsch is exceptionally suited to be an excellent dean for Oberlin, and I very much look forward to working with him,” says President Nancy S. Dye.

Hirsch joined the Macalester faculty in 2000 and chaired the president's committee on civic engagement there. He also was elected to Macalester’s curriculum committee and recent presidential search committee.

From 1986 to 2000, Hirsch was associate professor and professor of political science at the University of California, San Diego. He became chair of the department in 1996 after serving as chair of the faculty committee on privilege and tenure and as director of the undergraduate program in political science. He also was a pre-law advisor and a member of the steering committee for the gender studies program, the women's center’s advisory committee, and the committee on affirmative action.

Hirsch began his teaching career at Harvard, where he was assistant and associate professor of government and head tutor in the department of government from 1978 to 1986. He has chaired the American Political Science Association’s committee on the status of lesbians and gays and has served on the board of directors for the American Civil Liberties Union in San Diego and Imperial counties, as well as on the board of a nonprofit community theater in San Diego.

Hirsch graduated summa cum laude from the University of Michigan and earned the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Princeton University, where he won the Edward S. Corwin Dissertation Prize from the American Political Science Association.