Dr. Cornelius “Neil” Kerwin, M.A.’73, is President Emeritus and Professor in the Department of Public Administration and Policy of the School of Public Affairs of American University. He received degrees from American University (BA), the University of Rhode Island (MA, political science), and Johns Hopkins University (Ph.D., political science). He served as dean of American University’s School of Public Affairs from 1988 to 1997, provost from 1997 to 2005 and acting president and then president of the University from 2005 to 2017 when he stepped down and returned to the faculty. A nationally recognized specialist in public policy and the regulatory process, Dr. Kerwin is actively engaged in research and periodically teaches courses in administrative process, policy implementation, and American government. He founded AU’s Center for the Study of Rulemaking and is the original author and now co-author of Rulemaking: How Government Agencies Write Law and Make Policy, now in its fifth edition. Dr. Kerwin is a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, a former president of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration; and founding chair of the Section on Public Law and Administration of the American Society for Public Administration.

Term expired: February 1, 2025