A faculty member serves as the head of each of Princeton’s residential colleges, working closely with their staff to build community and to extend students’ education beyond the classroom.  The residential colleges are at the heart of Princeton undergraduate students’ living and learning experience on campus.

Mintzker, who specializes in the history of early modern and modern Germany, joined Princeton’s faculty as an assistant professor in 2009. He received a Ph.D. in history from Stanford University and an M.A. in history from Tel-Aviv University. His latest book, “The Many Deaths of Jew Süss” (Princeton University Press) won the National Jewish Book Award in History and was chosen by the Financial Times as one of the best books of 2017.

At Princeton, Mintzker currently serves as the Behrman Professor in the Humanities, in which role he has led the Humanities Sequence — a year-long introduction to the landmark achievements of the Western intellectual tradition. Previously, Mintzker served on the University’s faculty committee on examinations and standings, as director of undergraduate studies in the Department of History, and as executive secretary for the Davis Center for Historical Studies.

"I am incredibly excited about the opportunity to lead Yeh College over the next four years,” said Mintzker. “Our aim at Yeh is to pay attention to students’ academic progress but also and especially to their general well-being. It is a stunning place, and I just can’t wait to meet everybody in the fall.”

“Yair Mintzker has been an excellent partner to the College and to the undergraduate academic experience for many years,” said Dean of the College Jill Dolan. “I’m delighted by his willingness to take on this central role in our residential college system. My colleagues on the Council of College Heads look forward to his participation in the project of engaging our students in a dynamic, deliberative living and learning community.”

Yeh College opened with New College West last fall on the southern edge of Poe Field.  These new residential colleges allow the University to make a Princeton education accessible to more high-achieving students from all backgrounds. The Class of 2026 is the largest in Princeton’s history; 17% of class members are first-generation college students and 21% are lower-income students eligible for Pell Grants.

Mintzker will lead a residential college designed to invite transparency and ease of access.  He will live in the Yeh College faculty head house, situated at the southern end of Yeh’s dorms.  This proximity to Yeh’s students will allow Mintzker to participate fully in all aspects of residential college life.