Dear Fordies, IPPSters, and friends,
Wow! What a great five years it has been, in so many ways. I’ve loved being your dean. I’ve learned so much from you—our students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends.
At the same time, it’s been a hard five years for so many people, for so many reasons. There’s no place, no purpose, no collection of people that I’d rather have been a part of for the last five years.
We’ve worked together to deal with grief and loss and even thrive during a global pandemic, focusing on our mission to serve the public good. We’ve navigated a fractious and divisive political environment, building a more inclusive community, and learning how to listen and talk across our differences.
We’ve conducted pathbreaking research, taught and learned together, served our communities, and advanced public policy in so many ways, here at home and around the world. I’m so proud of all of you, and humbled to be dean of this great school.
I’m forever grateful to my faculty and staff colleagues for their partnership, dedication, creativity, and resourcefulness. Together, we’ve strengthened the Ford School as a premier public policy school and a leading force in changing the world for the better.
I’m forever grateful, as well, to our students and to our alumni and friends. You’ve been a constant source of inspiration and support.
President Biden has recently nominated me to serve as Vice Chair for Supervision and Governor on the Federal Reserve Board. If confirmed by the Senate, I look forward to helping to make the financial system safer, fairer, and better able to serve the needs of households and businesses. In the meanwhile, I’m focused on our shared partnership in support of the Ford School.
I know that the next five years will bring continued innovation and growth for our wonderful community, dedicated to the public good.
Michael S. Barr
Joan and Sanford Weill Dean, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy
Frank Murphy Collegiate Professor of Public Policy
Roy and Jean Humphrey Proffitt Professor of Law
University of Michigan
"More is more"
Read highlights from Barr's first term as dean of the Ford School.
More in State & Hill
Below, find the full, formatted spring 2022 edition of State & Hill. Click here to return to the Spring 2022 S&H homepage.
