Slaughter plans one year sabbatical in China

Wilson School Dean Anne-Marie Slaughter '80 is planning to take time off from her post the year after next to travel to China on a one-year sabbatical. Her husband, politics professor Andrew Moravcsik, and their two sons are expected to join her.

Though unconfirmed reports of her plans have been circulating for some time, a clearer picture emerged recently when Slaughter posted a message in an online community newsletter seeking a Mandarin tutor for her sons in preparation for the trip.

"Andy and I are planning to take the kids to China the year after next on a one-year sabbatical," Slaughter said in an e-mail to International Center Director Paula Chow, which was posted in the newsletter of the University's Association of Chinese Students and Scholars.

Slaughter, who is in Shanghai this week, declined to discuss her plans, saying in an e-mail that they "are not definite until I am reappointed as dean." Like all senior deans, she needs to successfully complete a five-year performance review before being reappointed as the Wilson School's dean.

President Tilghman said in an e-mail that the reappointment process is "our normal process with all deans" and that the review's outcome "has no connection to Dean Slaughter's leave plans."

It remains unclear what effect, if any, Slaughter's temporary departure will have on the Wilson School. The University is currently embroiled in a high-profile legal battle over the school's $650 million endowment, a conflict that University officials lament is sapping much of their time and energy.

As dean, Slaughter has won accolades for bolstering the school's international affairs programs by hiring several all-star faculty members from rival schools. She is also credited with bringing more public attention to the school through such initiatives as the Princeton Project on National Security.

A scholar of international affairs, Slaughter has also built a prominent public profile. She now serves as chair of the Department of State's Advisory Committee of Democracy Promotion. Her book on evolving structures of global governance, "A New World Order," was a bestseller in 2004.

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Tilghman did not respond to requests seeking comment on whether Slaughter's absence would have an adverse affect on the University. Dean of the Faculty David Dobkin and Princeton spokeswoman Cass Cliatt '96 also declined to comment, citing the University's confidentiality policy on personnel matters.

Wilson School professor Stanley Katz, the faculty chair of the school's undergraduate program, said he was confident that Slaughter would be formally reappointed to her post and that she would take the sabbatical.

"Frankly, I would assume that for Dean [Slaughter] this is a formality, and I cannot imagine any difficulty about her reappointment," Katz said. "I assume that she will be in Shanghai [the year after next]."