Christopher Warren Appointed Head of CMU English Department

In a significant leadership transition, Carnegie Mellon University has announced that Christopher Warren will take over as the head of the Department of English starting August 1. This appointment marks a new chapter as Warren steps into the role following Andreea Ritivoi, who will conclude her tenure on July 30 after serving since 2015.

Richard Scheines, Bess Family Dean of the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, expressed deep appreciation for Ritivoi’s impactful leadership and contributions. “First, I am profoundly grateful to Andreea Ritivoi, who was a spectacular head during a difficult time, and a wonderful colleague who for many years successfully led the Humanites@CMU Initiative,” he said.

Warren, an esteemed professor renowned for his expertise in 16th and 17th-century literature, has been a pivotal figure in integrating technology with humanities research. His vision, as articulated by Scheines, is to enhance interdisciplinary computing while maintaining a strong humanistic focus. “Chris Warren has become an internationally recognized leader in computational humanities, and his vision to align the department and the humanities more with CMU’s strengths in interdisciplinary computing, while fully preserving its humanistic perspective, comes at a perfect time. I am excited to see where he will take English,” Scheines added.

With a background that includes a courtesy appointment in the Department of History, Warren has played a crucial role as associate department head since 2021. He is known for his work in computational humanities, employing technologies like machine learning and AI to explore historical literature. He remarked on his new position, “Being the head of English at Carnegie Mellon means helping to cultivate the next generation of readers and leaders, which is a profound honor. Since CMU English boasts absolutely world-class faculty, brilliant students and unbelievable staff, the most important aspect of my job will be to help all of our amazing people shine.”

The Department of English at CMU is celebrated for its comprehensive academic program offerings, including 14 undergraduate and graduate programs that span a range of disciplines from literature and technical writing to film and creative writing. A new Ph.D. program in computational cultural studies is set to launch in fall 2026, further expanding the department’s innovative educational landscape.

Advocacy and Research in Humanities

Christopher Warren is actively engaged in humanities advocacy through the National Humanities Alliance, focusing on issues like funding and access to resources. His research encompasses diverse fields such as digital humanities and early modern literature. Warren is co-founder of notable digital projects like “Freedom and the Press before Freedom of the Press” and “Six Degrees of Francis Bacon,” both funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Currently, Warren is enhancing his research at the Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford, focusing on the Print & Probability project. This work involves developing computational methods to identify clandestine printers from the 16th and 17th centuries. Warren’s scholarly contributions include the award-winning book “Literature and the Law of Nations, 1580-1680,” and his articles are frequently published in leading journals.

Warren’s academic journey began with a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College, followed by a master’s from Georgetown University and a DPhil. from Oxford. His career includes teaching and research at institutions like Oxford University and the University of Chicago.