Fall 2024 Dean’s Welcome

Dear Annenberg Community,

Welcome! As we begin the new academic year, it is, as always, exciting to see familiar faces and to welcome new members to our community. My overriding goal this coming year at Annenberg is to renew our commitments to care, compassion, and joy, with more opportunities for connection, community, new questions, and possibly some new answers. We have many things in store for 2024-2025, and I’m happy, and feel very lucky, to be working with all of you on our various projects. 

Last year, I articulated my vision and goals for the school. This year, I aim to create opportunities for further community engagement, and will welcome feedback in how to achieve them. I’m incredibly grateful to the staff, faculty, and students who have given input on a wide range of projects over the past 12 months. Continuing with my goal to collaboratively work together to produce scholarship that has impact in multiple ways, and to make Annenberg a place that supports your diverse and exciting goals, I’m looking forward to hosting a school-wide “All Hands” meeting in the fall, where we will engage on a variety of topics. This will give us an opportunity to talk with each other and think through what is essential to each of us as we continue to do work that matters within Annenberg, within Penn and in Philadelphia, nationally and globally. 

I am pleased to announce the continuing appointment of our Vice Dean, Emily Falk, who has made incredible contributions to our school’s growth and academic excellence. This past year, Emily has been tireless and enthusiastic in her work, initiating my vision to create a more research-cohesive Annenberg story for both internal and external constituents, and I am so grateful we are a team.

We are excited to welcome Dr. R. Lance Holbert, our new Research Professor and Director of the Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics (LAIC) at the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC). We are equally delighted to have Dr. Amy Gutmann, President Emerita and former United States Ambassador to Germany, return as the Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Professor of Communication. Their wealth of experience and fresh perspectives will undoubtedly enrich not only the scholarship but also the community in our school, and it is wonderful to have both at Annenberg.

Some more exciting news! I am happy to report that the University has green-lit the next phase of our ongoing goal of renovating 3620 Walnut Street. This semester, we hope to secure the services of an architectural firm to help better assess our space needs that enhances teaching, research, and collaborations. We want to continue to be a vibrant and welcoming place for all, and I will be sure to keep you posted every step along the way.

I am delighted to announce that Rochelle Walensky, former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will be our 2025 distinguished Annenberg Lecture speaker, co-sponsored with APPC. Additionally, we have an exciting lineup of stellar scholars for the Elihu Katz Colloquia series. These events are designed to inspire, challenge, and broaden our horizons, and I encourage each of you to participate and engage with all the ideas presented.

Based on feedback from the community, we have decided that our “Dinners across Differences” program will continue this year. These dinners provide a unique opportunity to explore different perspectives, build connections, and promote inclusivity within our community. In addition, I am scheduling smaller staff and student lunches this year so that people can have a chance to meet with me informally over a meal. Stay tuned for more details, and we hope to see many of you at these events.

For me, the fall semester is filled with energy and promise. Of course, the various world conflicts and violence that impacted us both personally and professionally last year have tragically continued and expanded, and new political issues have emerged. These issues undoubtedly affect all of us in different ways. And, with the US election year upon us, we face the inevitable complexities and conflicts that accompany it. Yet, as always, we remain committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where every member of our community feels supported. We are focused on care, compassion, and joy at Annenberg this year, and I encourage you all to engage fully in the opportunities available this year, both inside and outside the classroom.

Your contributions, whether as students, postdocs, researchers, staff, or faculty, are invaluable to the continued success and growth of Annenberg. Here’s to a generative and compassionate year ahead!

Warmly,

Sarah Banet-Weiser
Walter H. Annenberg Dean
Lauren Berlant Professor