Message from the Dean

One of my favorite recent videos shows a group of whitewater rafters navigating some of the toughest rapids in the country. Midway through, a paddler nearly tumbles headfirst into the water. His friend firmly grabs him with both hands, pulling him back in the raft. I think often of this quick, simple, and potentially lifesaving gesture as we navigate today’s turbulence, uncertainty, and change.

On one hand, the School of Education and Social Policy is boldly moving forward, hiring exceptional new faculty and launching two important master’s degree programs. The first, the accelerated Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics, prepares recent graduates to drive transformative change across industries. Northwestern undergraduates can earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. Participants will learn how to navigate the complex human dynamics that shape modern organizations.

The second new offering, a Master of Science in Technology, People, and Policy, was born of this unique moment in the history of our planet: Technology has never evolved this quickly, and there is no going back. Graduates need to be able to work with policymakers and corporate and educational leaders to help guide the future.

We also ended our 2025 fiscal year having secured $6.7 million in new gifts and pledges from donors. We’ve hired amazing faculty members, and Professor Uri Wilensky was awarded the Yidan Prize, the world’s highest accolade in education.

But it’s also true that there have been significant changes at Northwestern, starting at the top with President Michael Schill’s resignation and the return of now interim president Henry Bienen. These are courageous people. Being president of any university is demanding in the best of times. In the current moment, it is extremely difficult and often thankless. As dean, I’ve seen that change can be one of the important constants of the job.

Institutions tend to like homeostasis and predictability. I suppose humans and animals do, too. The unyielding pace of change, however, is part of the fabric of the world. And while we can rarely slow it, we can manage our responses to the change and turmoil.

At our recent retreat, I asked faculty, “Do we want to be leaves in the wind, blown around by the whims of policymakers who define our destination for us? Or do we want to determine our pathway forward?”

When you’re navigating rough waters, the currents pull and tug at you and the route must be carefully managed. In these moments, it’s crucial that we row in the same direction—and just as important, that we stay alert and ready to help anyone who’s at risk of going overboard.

I am confident we will navigate our own whitewater rapids together to make it through the moment and move into the future. But I want our school to control our narrative and direction with a full understanding that things will be difficult.

We will be changing. We will be learning. We will be growing. And we will be leading.

I’m proud to be the dean of the School of Education and Social Policy. The students, staff, and faculty are the very best of us.

Warmly, 

Bryan