He will lead University efforts in pedagogical innovation, digital education, and ways tech can support teaching, lifelong learning, research
Dustin Tingley, a distinguished political scientist and leader in education innovation, has been named Harvard’s next vice provost for advances in learning, the University announced today.
“I am delighted that Dustin has agreed to serve as the next vice provost for advances in learning,” said University Provost John F. Manning. “He brings to this important role a wealth of experience in residential and online education, a deep understanding of technology’s potential to support academic excellence, and a strong commitment to innovation.”
As vice provost for advances in learning, Tingley will lead the University’s efforts in pedagogical innovation, digital education, and exploring the role of technology in supporting teaching, lifelong learning, and research on campus and around the world.
Tingley became interim vice provost in August 2025 and was deputy vice provost prior to that. He has long worked to develop, launch, and oversee initiatives to support teaching and learning at Harvard and beyond. Over the past decade, he also served as faculty director for the office’s Data Science and Technology Group, as well as for the Harvard Initiative for Learning and Teaching.
“It is an honor to continue to work alongside staff, faculty, and students in our collective pursuit of rigorous and engaging learning opportunities,” Tingley said. “The positive benefit we can bring to society through learning is a core mission of higher education institutions, and one where Harvard continues to have tremendous impact and opportunity.”
As a political scientist and public policy scholar with an interest in research methodology, Tingley’s research interests are broad, spanning international relations; the political economy of energy; data science and machine learning; and digital education. His recent work has included understanding how communities view changes in energy technologies, predicting students’ likelihood for online course completion, and applying machine learning to the social sciences.
Tingley has a joint appointment in the Government Department and the Harvard Kennedy School and teaches on the politics of climate and energy and international relations. In addition, he has taught on the business of the energy sector at Harvard Business School.
Outside of his research and teaching, Tingley has chaired Harvard’s Standing Committee on Climate Education and co-chaired the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Standing Committee on Public Service and Engaged Scholarship.
In 2012, he co-founded ABLConnect, an online database of active learning resources. He also previously served as director of graduate studies for the Government Department and faculty director of the Institute for Quantitative Social Science’s Undergraduate Research Scholar program.
Tingley holds a Ph.D. in politics from Princeton University and a Bachelor of Arts in political science with a minor in mathematics from the University of Rochester.
Facts Only
* Dustin Tingley was named vice provost for advances in learning at Harvard.
* The role involves leading University efforts in pedagogical innovation, digital education, and technology support for teaching, lifelong learning, and research.
* Provost John F. Manning announced the appointment.
* Tingley served as interim vice provost in August 2025.
* Tingley was deputy vice provost prior to serving as interim vice provost.
* Tingley previously served as faculty director for the Data Science and Technology Group and the Harvard Initiative for Learning and Teaching.
* Tingley has research interests including international relations, political economy of energy, data science/machine learning, and digital education.
* Tingley holds joint appointments in the Government Department and the Harvard Kennedy School.
* Tingley taught on the politics of climate and energy at Harvard and the business of the energy sector at Harvard Business School.
* Tingley co-founded ABLConnect in 2012.
* Tingley holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University.
Executive Summary
Dustin Tingley has been named Harvard’s next vice provost for advances in learning, a role focusing on pedagogical innovation, digital education, and the application of technology to teaching, lifelong learning, and research. Provost John F. Manning stated that Tingley brings experience in residential and online education, an understanding of technology's potential for academic excellence, and a commitment to innovation to this position. As vice provost, Tingley will lead university efforts in these areas across campus and globally.
Tingley previously served as interim vice provost in August 2025 and was deputy vice provost prior to that. His background includes serving as faculty director for the Data Science and Technology Group and the Harvard Initiative for Learning and Teaching over the last decade. His research interests span international relations, energy economics, data science, machine learning, and digital education. He also holds joint appointments in the Government Department and the Harvard Kennedy School, teaching on climate, energy, and international relations at various institutions.
Full Take
The appointment reflects a convergence between traditional academic leadership and the rapidly evolving landscape of digital learning and technological application within higher education. Tingley’s background, blending political science research with expertise in data science and energy systems, positions him to bridge theoretical frameworks with practical pedagogical innovation, which is crucial for addressing modern educational challenges. The emphasis on technology as a support mechanism for teaching, lifelong learning, and research suggests an institutional pivot toward integrating computational methods into the core mission of academic inquiry.
The pattern observed is the elevation of interdisciplinary expertise—specifically quantitative social science and technology application—to senior administrative roles focused on systemic advancement. This mirrors a broader trend where institutions seek leaders who can manage complexity by synthesizing disparate fields. The implication is that future university success will depend not just on content delivery, but on effectively leveraging digital tools for deeper, more personalized learning experiences. The underlying assumption is that the ability to apply analytical rigor (like political science or data science) to educational systems is paramount for achieving societal impact in an increasingly complex world.
Bridge Questions: How will the integration of data science methods fundamentally alter established pedagogical norms at Harvard? What are the institutional mechanisms in place to ensure that technological advancements serve equity across diverse learning modalities, rather than concentrating innovation among specific departments? What external pressures or opportunities are driving this specific emphasis on digital education and technology as the primary drivers for future advancement?
Sentinel — Human
This text reads like a formal press announcement or biography, exhibiting the structured, fact-heavy style typical of institutional news reporting rather than synthetic content.