We are pleased to share with you the Summer 2020 Antiochian Leader, the biannual newsletter of the Graduate School of Leadership and Change (GSLC). As always, it is overflowing with GSLC news, alumni and student updates, and announcements. You will also find in this issue a few longer pieces than usual, prompted by the pandemic’s impact on the GSLC’s approach to teaching and learning, the experiences of virtual dissertation defenses, interviews with our two new faculty starting in July 2020, and thoughts about how the GSLC can support the boldest public voices of our scholar-practitioner-activist community in standing up against injustice.The timing of this edition and distribution today on June 19, Juneteenth recognizes the decades long struggle in the United States for racial equality and justice, long after the official end of slavery. As these past weeks and months have so painfully illuminated, racism and structural equality live deep in our systems, ideologies, beliefs. There is so much to be done.
I am heartened by the resilience and commitment of members of our learning community and I deeply hope that being part of GSLC in turn gives you strength and confidence to “win victories for humanity”.
In peace, with health and justice,
Laurien
Laurien Alexandre, PhD
Provost, Graduate School of Leadership and Change
Provost, Graduate School of Leadership and Change