Dear Princeton SPIA community,

Last week, we welcomed students and faculty members back to campus for the spring semester. They returned to an environment of great activity. The announcement of a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and the start of a new presidential administration provided immediate, real-world case studies in international affairs, diplomacy, domestic policy, presidential politics, and more. I am proud that our faculty reacted to these events with swift, insightful analyses of the ceasefire and of recent changes to immigration policy. Their expertise on these and other pressing issues across the country and around the world provides much-needed context and insights.

These activities fit in well with the School’s strategic pillars, which guide us as we train the next generation of public servants. From expanding our internationalization efforts and engagement with policymakers to fostering diversity and inclusion and building a cohesive Princeton SPIA community, we work in multiple ways to integrate world-class scholarship and a commitment to service to make a positive difference in the world. Supporting all of this is a foundation of constructive dialogues that brings together multiple perspectives in a spirit of civil discourse.

Finally, I would like to welcome three new faculty members joining us this semester: Pauline Carry, an assistant professor of economics and international affairs; Simon Jager, an associate professor of economics and public affairs; and Khalil Muhammad, a professor of African American studies and public affairs. We are fortunate to have these three gifted scholars as colleagues.

From all of us at Princeton SPIA, best wishes for a terrific semester. Thank you for everything you do for the School.

Warm regards,

Amaney Jamal

Dean