Message from the Dean

Meredith Jung-En Woo

It is with great pleasure that I introduce myself to you in these pages, and I hope this is just the beginning of a long and active correspondence we share in the years to come.

At this writing, I have been on the job as dean for two weeks, and I have found just what I expected: The College is a magical place. There is a deeply ingrained culture unique to Virginia which is not—and perhaps cannot be—replicated elsewhere. The College is a deeply nurturing place. Too many educators think that universities are providers only of skills and knowledge but not of virtue. Mr. Jefferson’s Academical Village has managed to combine all three.

I am deeply honored and excited to be here. I have taught at both private and public schools, and I think our great public universities, which fulfill such an important public purpose, are a remarkable and singular asset to the nation, perhaps not appreciated enough for what a great job they do in educating tens of thousands of students every year. Virginia combines the best virtues of public and private universities, given the quality of its undergraduate education, which is usually found only in the best private universities.

As always, Arts & Sciences magazine reflects this excellence. In this issue, you will find professors whose cutting-edge—and timely—research examines the subtleties of race and gender in American politics, and another who is single-handedly transforming our understanding of the origins of habeas corpus in ways that are making a difference at the U.S. Supreme Court. You will also find students doing creative work.

Each quarter, in this space, I look forward to sharing our work and activities. (This month, you’ll find an interview with me on page 4.)

It’s a privilege to be here, and I am eager to get to know the College and its community.

Meredith Jung-En Woo
Buckner W. Clay Dean of Arts & Sciences