Dean Ryan's Letter to the Community

Dear Friends,

I write with mixed emotions to share the news that I will be stepping down as dean at the end of this academic year in order to become the president of the University of Virginia.

While I am excited and honored by the chance to serve my alma mater and a university at which I taught for 15 years, it will be difficult to leave HGSE. I was an outsider to this institution when I arrived in 2013, but you quickly made me feel welcome. In a short period of time, I came not only to deeply admire this community, but to love it. The sense of mission, the dedication and talent, and the care and compassion that abound on Appian Way make this a remarkable community, and it has been one of the great privileges of my professional life to be a part of it.

The year is still young, and we have much to do. And we can accomplish a great deal in an academic year, as our students show us time and again. I look forward to working with all of you, and working as hard as I can, until my last day as dean so that we can continue the progress we have made together and ensure a seamless transition for the next dean — and the next chapter in the life of a truly great institution.

Best,

Jim