Frederick "Fritz" Mayer

Frederick "Fritz" Mayer is the Dean of the Korbel School, a position he has held since 2019. During his tenure, Dean Mayer has prioritized education and engaged scholarship to address the world’s most pressing challenges, elevating the Korbel School to be ranked 12th globally among graduate programs in international affairs. He has led the development of several key initiatives, including the master’s program in Global Environmental Sustainability and the launch of the Scrivner Institute of Public Policy. In collaboration with faculty, staff, and students, Dean Mayer is now leading the formation of "Korbel 2030," a strategic vision designed to solidify the Korbel School’s role as a leader in solutions-oriented research and education for the next generation of global leaders.

Dean Mayer’s scholarly interests include economic globalization and the role of storytelling in politics and collective action. He has published two single-authored books, four educational publications, and numerous widely cited articles and chapters. Before joining the University of Denver, Dean Mayer served as Associate Dean at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, where he was also Professor of Public Policy, Political Science and the Environment. Prior to academic life, he worked as foreign policy advisor to former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley. In addition, Dean Mayer has a long track record of impactful professional service, including current roles as chair of the Denver Council on Foreign Relations, member of the Academic Alliance for AI Policy, and founder of The Colorado Project, a statewide platform for deliberation focused on challenging issues affecting Colorado.