School Leadership

Meet the leadership team at the Humphrey School, including Dean Nisha Botchwey, guiding the institution's mission to educate and empower leaders for the common good.

Dean Nisha Botchwey

Nisha Botchwey, PhD, MCRP, MPH, has served as dean of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and holder of the Russell M. and Elizabeth M. Bennett Chair in Excellence in Public Affairs since January 2022. She leads a top-ten school of public policy, planning, and administration as it approaches its 50th anniversary in 2027. 

Under her leadership, the Humphrey School has risen from #13 to #9 in national rankings, placing it among the top five percent of public affairs schools nationwide, and has grown its research portfolio by 40 percent. Botchwey has expanded student-success initiatives, global partnerships, community engagement, scholarship support, and pathways connecting undergraduate students to graduate education. She has also made constructive dialogue a signature commitment of the School and strengthened its financial position and philanthropic support. 

Botchwey is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and president-elect of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the Public Affairs Schools Deans’ Summit and co-directs Future Leaders of Schools of Public Service. Her community leadership includes service on the boards of Books For Africa and Greater Twin Cities United Way and as vice chair of the African American Leadership Forum. 

Before joining the Humphrey School, Botchwey was a tenured associate professor in Georgia Tech’s School of City and Regional Planning and director of its Healthy Places Lab. She also held faculty appointments at Emory University and the University of Virginia.

Read more about Dean Botchwey. 

Associate Dean for Research Yuan (Daniel) Cheng

Yuan (Daniel) Cheng, PhD, has been a member of the Humphrey School faculty in the Leadership and Management area since 2018. As associate dean for research, Cheng serves as the primary point of contact for the Humphrey School's research faculty and center directors, and provides guidance on research policies, grant funding opportunities, research ethics, and other matters that support the School's research enterprise. 

He also represents the Humphrey School in University research leadership groups and works to strengthen collaboration among faculty, research centers, and external partners to advance impactful scholarship. 

Cheng's research examines public management and collaborative governance, with a focus on how government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and communities work together to deliver public services. His scholarship explores government-nonprofit relationships, civic engagement, cross-sector collaboration, and evidence-based policymaking, with an emphasis on improving public sector performance, designing more inclusive grant-making programs, and increasing the policy impact of academic research. 

In addition to his role as associate dean for research, Cheng is an associate professor and McKnight Presidential Fellow at the University of Minnesota. Read more about Associate Dean Cheng.

Assistant Dean for Graduate Education Diana Beck

Diana Beck was appointed assistant dean in August 2021. She has been with the Humphrey School since August 2018, serving as the director of academic programs. 

She leads the development, implementation, and evaluation of our academic programs; works closely with the directors of graduate studies, faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholders to advance curricular innovation, leverage emerging trends and best practices in professional student education; and supports key curricular initiatives including around equity and inclusion and engaged learning.

She also represents the School at university-wide meetings, such as the Professional Education Council and the Council of Graduate Associate and Assistant Deans. Read more about Assistant Dean Beck.

Senior Strategic Advisor, Meagan Pierluissi

As Senior Strategic Advisor, Meagan Pierluissi serves as a strategic thought partner to the Dean and provides leadership across the Humphrey School's priorities. Working closely with the Dean and senior leadership team, she helps shape strategy, align cross-functional initiatives, and translate the School's vision into coordinated action. 

Meagan leads strategic planning and execution across a broad portfolio that includes executive communications, alumni engagement and stewardship, organizational effectiveness, and major initiatives. She works collaboratively across academic and administrative units to strengthen alignment, improve decision-making, and advance the School's mission and strategic priorities. 

Since joining the Humphrey School in 2021, Meagan has helped guide the School through significant organizational change, leadership transitions, and growth. Her work has strengthened strategic planning and execution, enhanced collaboration across the School, and supported initiatives that deepen engagement with alumni, donors, policymakers, and community partners. 

Before joining the Humphrey School, Meagan held leadership roles in strategic communications and public affairs in higher education and government. She is a veteran of the Army National Guard, where she served as a Public Affairs Officer. Read more about Meagan.