Spring 2004

Dean's Column

As I enter my fourth semester as Dean, the volume of exciting news greatly exceeds the space in this short column. So I will focus on highlights in three areas - faculty appointments, Board leadership, and alumni relations.

Faculty appointments. With the support of New School University President Bob Kerrey, we have made nine full-time faculty appointments in the past 18 months - more than in any comparable period during the past two decades. I am enthusiastic about each of these appointments. They are in anthropology, historical studies, philosophy, psychology, and sociology - and we have more searches underway. These new faculty will bring new dynamism and distinction to the GF and New School University.

Moreover, Arjun Appadurai, the newly appointed University Provost, is being appointed Distinguished University Professor of Anthropology at the GF. I cannot overstate what great things I expect from his leadership as the University's chief academic officer.

Board leadership. One of my truly great pleasures as Dean has been working with the GF Board of Governors. Chaired by Trustee Michael Gellert, one of the GF's most intelligent advocates, our Board provides the Dean with guidance on diverse strategic issues. Numerous members of the Board also made exceedingly generous gifts to the GF during the past six months. Trustee Henry Arnhold, already one of our most generous supporters, established a $2.5 million endowment for a Distinguished University Professorship. Trustee Strachan Donnelley (Ph.D., Philosophy, 1977) pledged $1.8 million, primarily for fellowships. We also received significant new gifts from Board members Kenneth J. Bialkin, Susan Foote, Robert Mundheim, and Walter Eberstadt.

Alumni relations. One of my most important goals as Dean has been to bring our alumni back into the intellectual and social community of the GF. We took another important step in that process this fall when we held our first annual Alumni Reception, which attracted graduates from the 1950s to 2002.

Together - new faculty, an outstanding Board, and a growing alumni community - are creating the momentum for an exciting new era at the GF. As always, please feel free to contact me at (212) 299-5777 or via e-mail at bernster@newschool.edu.

Best,

Richard J. Bernstein
Vera List Professor and Dean

Archived Letters:
October 1, 2002
October 24, 2002
Summer, 2003
Fall, 2003

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