Deborah A. Prentice (1961-) served as Princeton’s 15th dean of the faculty from 2014 to 2017. Prentice spent over three decades at Princeton as a leading psychology scholar and University administrator, paving the way for her installation as the 347th vice-chancellor at the University of Cambridge in 2023.

Prentice earned her Bachelor of Arts in human biology and music from Stanford University in 1984. She attended Yale University for graduate studies, receiving a Master of Science in 1986, a Master of Philosophy in 1987 and a doctorate in 1989, all in psychology.

Prentice joined the Princeton faculty in 1988, becoming an assistant professor in 1989 and an associate professor in 1995 before achieving the rank of full professor in 2000. In 2008, she became the Alexander Stewart 1886 Professor of Psychology. Her named professorship was modified in 2012 to the Alexander Stewart 1886 Professor of Psychology and Public Affairs. She transferred to emeritus status in 2025.

Specializing in the study of domestic violence, alcohol abuse and gender stereotypes, Prentice has co-authored three books and published more than 50 articles and chapters in various psychology journals. Her work regarding alcohol use on college campuses has been used as a foundation for numerous campus alcohol education and intervention programs.

Prentice’s commitment to scholarly excellence led to her receiving many honors and awards, namely, the Sterling Prize Fellowship from Yale in 1984 to 1985, the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preceptorship in Princeton’s University Center for Human Values from 1993 to 1996, and the President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1994.

Prentice was the Princeton psychology department chair from 2002 to 2014 before she was appointed dean of the faculty. After three years as dean, she served as Princeton’s provost from 2017 to 2023. Among the many accomplishments that defined her time as provost, Prentice oversaw an expansion of the undergraduate student body. Prentice also helped guide the University through the COVID-19 pandemic and redesigned student financial aid and stipend packages.

In July 2023, after 35 years of service to Princeton, Prentice became the vice-chancellor at the University of Cambridge and the first American to fill the university's top academic and administrative role.

Written by Shane B. Black for the Office of the Dean of the Faculty.