Dean's Messages Archive

As I write these words, I am surrounded by the warmth of the June sun in State College. The days are among the longest all year and afford more opportunities to spend time outdoors. This time of the year has always been restorative for me and 2021 is no different. In fact, it appears our collective navigation of the pandemic is beginning to allow us to participate in activities similar to those we took for granted over a year ago. You may also be sensing a degree of restoration and the possibilities in the months to come. In the college, we are a couple of months away from the start of a new academic year and a new set of possibilities.

The idea of “MakingPossibilitiesPossible” has been on my mind of late. In some ways, the four goals in the college strategic plan are built on this notion. Revised during much of 2020 to align with the revised University strategic plan, the college plan is constructed on four goals. In short, these goals seek to:

• Cultivate transformative opportunities and experiences,
• Establish, foster, and promote a culture of anti-racism, anti-oppression, inclusion, and equity
• Advance innovative practices; and
• Develop strategic alliances.

As a collective effort, we developed these goals through a series of workshops, conversations, and editing exchanges. These four goals are described in more detail in the full strategic plan, but you can find a one-page summary here. This plan has always been imagined as a living document. As such, it is designed to morph and take the form of the spaces we imagine and create over the next four years.

In addition, I have constructed a list of my own priorities for the next four years, as well as specific goals for 2021-22. One of these goals is to socialize and begin implementation of the strategic plan and my priorities for the college. By sharing my priorities here, I am initiating that action. They are:

• Enable student success and achievement;
• Create space and spaces of possibilities;
• Support programmatic innovation, research, and creative practice;
• Endow positions, departments, and schools;
• Secure support for the educational and operational initiatives of the Palmer Museum of Art;
• Center/advance/normalize policies and practices of access, anti-racism, and social equity;
• Recruit and retain students, staff, faculty, and administrators from marginalized populations & diversify the demographics of our councils, committees, and affiliates;
• Increase the visibility of our research, creative practice, accomplishments, and programs.

We have already seen evidence of some of these goals and priorities taking shape as our students, staff, faculty, and alumni continue to achieve, succeed, and have a positive influence on our world. These priorities are all about #MakingPossibilitiesPossible. I will elaborate on these priorities in future messages. Keep an eye on the college website, Penn State News, and our social media accounts across the college for stories about what we are up to, including—in this issue—alumnus Bill Holloway’s Presidential appointment, recent graduate Leo Wang’s innovative exhibition in downtown State College, and more.

I trust the remainder of the summer will treat you well. Enjoy! The fall is right around the corner.