August 18, 2026
Later this week I’ll send a longer missive meant for a wider audience. For now I want to spend a few minutes just talking to the SMPA community.
We start the new school year as we start all school years, with a mix of energy, trepidation, and hope. Some falls feel more chaotic than others, but none are all always easy or pure doom. This fall is no different. My advice remains largely the same as well.
Some of you have heard me say some of this before (and will hear me say it again). Reminders worth repeating.
- You’re in SMPA because you belong here. You worked hard and earned your place in our community. That also means the person next to you in class - the person whose ideas you think are nutty, taste in music is terrible, and fashion choices tragic - also belongs here, they worked hard and earned their seat as well (and they may think the same of you). If you trusted GW to see something special in you, know that GW also saw something special in them.
- SMPA is a place to play with ideas, question your own assumptions, change your mind and change it again, push yourself intellectually, and build relationships that will last long after GW. So do those things.
- Sometimes we will disagree with each other. Some of those disagreements will be about food, sports, and music. Other disagreements will be about politics and policy. Some of those disagreements will be intense. That’s good. Democracy relies on debate, it does not demand agreement on issues. Debate, agree if you can agree to disagree if you can’t, then debate some more. Those disagreements should focus on issues and ideas - not the person expressing them. Remember, everyone in SMPA belongs here. Respect your colleagues, debate their ideas but do not question their worth as human beings.
- Try not to compare yourself to your classmates. You are surrounded by people who, like you, are ambitious and accustomed to succeeding. It can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking you’re failing because someone in one of your classes has more internships, got a cool job you didn’t get, or received a better grade than you did. Professional success ebbs and flows over a career. Your schedule this fall or the grades you get don’t determine how happy or successful you will be over the course of your lifetime. Your worth as a person is not determined by your LinkedIn profile or GPA.
- SMPA is a community of scholars, practitioners, and creators. But above all, SMPA is a community of people. Our community is full of faculty, staff, and students who are curious, kind, and supportive. We learn from each other, push each other to be better, and support each other when things don’t go to plan. You are part of our SMPA community. Together, we are #SMPAProud.
Welcome (almost) back. I look forward to catching up with those of you returning to campus and meeting those of you new to SMPA. It’s going to be an exciting semester.