Dear Friends:
Since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, it’s no secret that our School of Education has faced challenges few of us could have envisioned.
But in a year that was difficult for so many across the world, sometimes you have no choice but to roll with the punches.
When UW–Madison canceled in-person courses the second week of March, we spent spring break quickly transitioning our School’s 400 classes to virtual modes of delivery. And we did this while almost 1,000 of our employees were figuring out how to work remotely.
Since that time, we’ve worked hard to keep nearly all of our research projects going and refocused our commitment to racial justice and Associate Dean LaVar Charleston’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. After enjoying a very successful Summer Term, we carried that momentum over to the fall semester, where we delivered high-quality online, in-person, and hybrid courses to our students. I’m most proud of how our School didn’t merely survive during this difficult period — we’ve been able to thrive.
A highlight for our School community came Aug. 18 — when we announced Impact 2030. With an eye to the School’s centennial in 2030, this new initiative made possible thanks to $40 million in gift funds from our alumni and friends is allowing us to bolster opportunities and significantly increase support for our faculty, staff, and students to better serve our communities, the state, and the world. This issue of Learning Connections spotlights Impact 2030, its four pillars, and just some of the exciting work that’s being made possible by this initiative across the arts, health, and education. This latest issue of our alumni magazine similarly highlights high-quality work being done across all 10 of our departments. Such efforts make me incredibly proud of the School of Education — and very hopeful, despite the current challenges.
Like all of you, I can’t wait for the day when we can return to more typical times. Until then, our School of Education — with support from our many alumni and friends just like you — will continue moving forward with a sense of optimism and a belief in big ideas.
— Diana Hess