The Rutgers University Eagleton Institute of Politics announced Elizabeth Matto as its new director Sept. 13, succeeding former New Jersey Attorney General John Farmer Jr., who led the Institute since 2019 and decided earlier this year to step down.

The appointment followed an internal search by Rutgers University-New Brunswick Chancellor Francine Conway and was effective Sept. 1.

Matto, a political scientist as well as expert scholar and educator of democratic education, has served on the Institute’s faculty for 15 years. She is the founding director of Eagleton’s Center for Youth Political Participation, a research and educational center celebrating and supporting political learning and engagement among young people through research, public service and education.

“For nearly 70 years, the Institute has served as Rutgers University’s resource for the teaching and practice of politics, leading the way in producing and sharing research and public service work that improves American democracy,” said Matto in a press release. “My vision is to carry the Institute’s mission forward by centering civic learning and engagement in ways that are creative, collaborative, and expansive while being accessible and relevant to the needs of students, higher education, and our democracy.”

Last year, Matto was invited to serve on a presidential task force for the American Political Science Association focused on rethinking the political science major.

At Rutgers, she is the co-chair of the Presidential Employee Excellence Committee, created by Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway, in addition to serving as his delegate on civic learning initiatives organized by the Institute for Citizens and Scholars.

“At a moment of such import for the future of our democracy, I can’t think of a person more ideally suited to taking on the leadership of Eagleton than Elizabeth, who has already done so much as both a scholar and practitioner in helping young people recognize the urgency of their own engagement in civic and political life,” said Holloway.

Conway described Matto as an exceptional political scientist who helps students clearly understand how democracy works and how their civic engagement can help shape the policies that will affect present and future generations.

“The Eagleton Institute of Politics has a proud tradition of strong and committed leaders who connect students with real-world learning experiences and cultivate an ethos for public service,” said Conway. “With her leadership of Eagleton’s Center for Youth Political Participation and deep commitment to Eagleton’s goals, Elizabeth is the right leader to guide Eagleton into the future during a consequential time for democratic education.”

The Institute says that with this leadership transition in place, it looks forward to a successful academic year, the upcoming 2024 presidential election, and its 70th anniversary in 2026.

“It is a privilege to lead the Eagleton Institute in the next chapter of its history,” Matto added.