Dean's CornerNovember 21, 2025
Dear Emory College Community,
This semester, members of Emory College have hosted and participated in a range of events that have showcased our world-class faculty and their pathbreaking research, and the leadership and intellectual acumen of Emory students. From large events that brought together an international group of scholars and practitioners, to book talks and faculty panels, the faculty, staff, and students in Emory College have demonstrated the power and potential of serious intellectual engagement to spark discussion, generate new ideas, and facilitate thoughtful reflection on the historical and contemporary role of the university.
In October, the College’s Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics hosted the “Compassion Shift.” This two-day, international symposium launched both the Center’s “Compassion Shift” online resources and the Year of Compassion, an ongoing series of events across campus. A roster of internationally known scholars and leaders spoke about how the Center’s curricula have had transformative effects on education, teacher training, healthcare, and leadership around the world.
The research is clear that extending compassion to ourselves and others can strengthen communication and open the way for thoughtful and engaged learning and understanding. Extending compassion in an academic context—in the classroom, lab, and studio, or in department and committee meetings— does not mean dispensing with scholarly rigor or condoning inappropriate behavior. Instead, it means allowing space for a range of questions and perspectives and upholding our shared commitment to sustaining an inclusive and respectful community, as well as our abiding commitment to academic freedom.
Everyone—faculty, staff, and students— contributes to the life of our college. On most days, we exchange casual “thank you’s” and other expressions of gratitude for our colleagues’ work. I want to acknowledge that this year, many people in the college did not receive merit raises as recognition of their research, teaching, and service accomplishments. This year’s merit raises were reserved for those in the college who earn under $75,000 annually, as well as those faculty who earned tenure and promotion in 2024-25. This shift in practice was not confined to the college but was part of a university-wide effort. Nonetheless, all the faculty and staff in Emory College contribute in meaningful and meritorious ways to the lives of our students and the vibrancy of our academic community. As we continue to navigate the financial challenges of our current moment, I hope that we can all find ways to extend compassion and gratitude to our colleagues across the college and campus.
Dean, Emory College of Arts and Sciences
Charles Howard Candler Professor of History
Emory University
