Letter from the Dean

The past few weeks on campus have been filled with the joyful traditions that mark the close of every academic year: students crossing the stage at Commencement and graduates returning to reconnect over Alumni Weekend. It is a time of celebration, of honoring accomplishments—a time of looking back and looking forward. These moments remind us what education makes possible: growth, discovery, and hope for the future.

And yet, this season of joy arrives amid profound disruption. Across the country and around the world, educators and learners are facing extraordinary pressures. Shifting political winds, heightened scrutiny of schools and universities, and shrinking support for critical social services have left many of you carrying more than your share. I have heard from alumni who are concerned about funding, burnout, academic freedom, and the safety and wellbeing of their students and colleagues.

In complex times, we are called back to our convictions. At Penn GSE, we hold fast to a simple one: education is the bedrock of a just and thriving society. It uplifts individuals. It empowers communities. And by preparing learners for engaged participation in civic life, it sustains democracy itself.

So, our work must continue. Penn GSE is redoubling our investments in the people and partnerships that shape education for the better. Our faculty are producing field-defining research that speaks directly to the great challenges of our time in areas like student mental health, teacher retention, school finance, higher education leadership, and more. Our students are entering the field ready to lead, grounded in rigorous preparation and real-world experience. And our alumni are advancing change every day in classrooms, districts, universities, nonprofits, edtech ventures, and other vital spaces for learning. The reach of this work is extraordinary.

You bring Penn GSE’s mission to life every day, and we want to be there for you. If you are navigating disruption, please reach out. What resources or opportunities would be most meaningful? Please let us know at alumni@gse.upenn.edu. I am deeply grateful for your partnership, and I know that, together, we can sustain our shared purpose in this turbulent time.

All best,

Dean, Penn Graduate School of Education
George and Diane Weiss Professor of Education