Letter from the Dean

Dear Alumni and Friends,

When I received the news that I’d been offered the job of dean of Penn GSE, my family and I were on top of the world—literally. We were skiing in Colorado, and my sons and I were on top of the highest peak at Winter Park, 12,000 feet above sea level. I took out my phone to take a picture of them, and I saw the email from Penn.

I was so excited that I accidentally took my 11-year-old twins down a very steep black-diamond run full of bumpy moguls. I realized how arduous the run was only once we had made a few too many turns to go back. So, I took a breath, plastered a determined smile on my face, and led the boys down the mountain. When we made it to the bottom unscathed, I pointed up and showed them what we had done—what they had just accomplished. Then we went inside, found my husband, and told him the news, both about the skiing challenge we had overcome together, and my exciting new job that would bring us all to Philadelphia.

Since arriving on campus over the summer, I’ve thought about that afternoon a lot. In many ways, that ski run with my kids is an important reminder of the work we are doing here at Penn GSE and why we do it. Trying new and difficult things is exciting, and scary, and worth it. It is easier to face challenges together than alone. And we need to take pride in the skills of those we have taught, knowing that they have not only the expertise to succeed but also our support to help them along their path.

Here at Penn GSE, we are at the top of our game—12,000 feet up, so to speak. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have room to learn, grow, challenge ourselves, and work together to accomplish incredible things we didn’t know we could do.

Since July, I have had the privilege of immersing myself in the Penn GSE community. My top priority has been getting to know the heart of our institution—its people. We live in deeply polarizing times, but I have been invigorated by our community’s shared commitments to service, discussion across difference, and a belief that Penn GSE must continue to contribute to the public good. I am beyond honored that I have joined a team of people who are not satisfied with simply reaching the top of the mountain, but instead, are willing to support each other as we tackle the challenges that inevitably come when we make our way through the bumps, working to improve the world around us.

I am eager to embark on this journey together, and I look forward to all we will achieve as a community.

All my best,