Dear Lynch School Community,
Throughout the Lynch School’s history, we’ve valued community and put our mission at the center of the remarkable work we do. As a result, the Lynch School is a collaborative place, where students and faculty members regard one another as partners rather than competitors.
This legacy leads to a question that has engaged me throughout my first year as dean: can a school of education both compete at elite levels—where there is great weight placed on individual success—and still be mission-driven and collaborative? The Lynch School has taught me that the answer is yes.
In this issue of eColloquia, you’ll find features illustrating how our faculty work together—and with practitioners, students, and other members of our community—to pursue initiatives whose large-scale impact distinguishes a first-rate research university. Last winter, for instance, Boisi Professor Henry Braun and Professor Diana Pullin were elected members of the National Academy of Education in recognition of their scholarly contributions to educational policy. Meanwhile, Kearns Professor Mary Walsh, the founding executive director of the nationally recognized “whole-child” program City Connects, and Professor Michael Barnett, a pioneer in urban science education and educational technology, are significantly improving the lives of underserved students through innovative collaborations and extensive partnerships.
As I enter my second year at the Lynch School, I will continue to focus on our mission while raising the Lynch School’s public profile and expanding its influence. I look forward to working together as we keep the Lynch School an unusual academic community that achieves elite results while maintaining collaboration and shared mission.
Sincerely.
Stanton Wortham
Charles F. Donovan, S.J., Dean