Dr. Walter Powell

Biography

Walter W. Powell is the Jacks Family Professor at Stanford University, where he holds courtesy appointments in the Departments of Communication, Sociology, and Organizational Behavior. He is known for his influential work in the fields of organizational behavior and social networks, with a focus on how ideas and practices move across organizations. Powell is a co-director of the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society, a role he has held since its founding in 2006. His accolades include several honorary degrees from prestigious institutions such as Uppsala University and Copenhagen Business School, and he has been recognized by leading academies, including the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences and the British Academy. His numerous publications explore topics ranging from institutional isomorphism to the dynamics of inter-organizational collaboration, achieving notable recognition such as the Max Weber award. Powell has served on boards like the Social Science Research Council and has been an external faculty member of the Santa Fe Institute. He holds a PhD from SUNY-Stony Brook and has taught various courses related to higher education, public policy, and sociology at Stanford University.

Research Interests

Courses