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Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026

Dear Dietrich College Community,

Please join me in congratulating Kevin Zollman, Herbert A. Simon Professor of Philosophy and Social and Decision Sciences, whose appointment as head of the Department of Philosophy begins on Sept. 1.

Kevin will succeed Peter Spirtes, who has served as department head since July 2021. Philosophy is one of Dietrich College's true distinctions, and it is stronger today because of Peter's steady, thoughtful leadership over the past five years. I am grateful for all he has done and delighted that Kevin is stepping into this role — he brings both deep respect for what the department has built and a clear vision for its next chapter.

Kevin’s research focuses on game theory, agent-based modeling and the philosophy of science. He has served as the director of ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ’s Institute for Complex Social Dynamics (ICSD) since its inception in fall 2023. In addition to his work at Carnegie Mellon, he holds fellowships, adjunct positions, and visiting professorships at the University of Pittsburgh and Ludwig-Maximilians Universität in Munich, Germany.

You can read more about Kevin’s appointment on the Dietrich College news page.

Best

Cassidy R. Sugimoto 
Bess Family Dean