Where has the summer gone? Wasn’t it a few days ago when we celebrated commencement and the end of another successful school year? A blink of an eye later and we are fully back in the swing of things. I hope you had the chance to be outdoors to enjoy the summer months, as fleeting as they were.

Although I do enjoy the summertime, fall is my favorite time of the year. It’s great to welcome back students as they continue on their academic journey and meet new students nervous with anticipation as they embark on a new chapter in their lives.

Fall is a season of change. Some changes breed excitement and others are more bittersweet. Our main story in this issue falls into the latter category. After 50 years at the University, with an incredible record of engaged scholarship at our Institute of Child Development, Regents Professor of Child Development Ann Masten has retired. For decades, she has led the world’s leading researchers in the field of resilience. Read about her work and how each of us has the potential to develop “ordinary magic” to deal with adversity—quite a legacy.

An exciting addition to the college is the four new faculty members who joined us this fall. We sat down with each of them to learn about their research interests, their teaching strategies, and a personal fun fact. Our Institute on Community Integration (ICI) is on the front lines of promoting inclusivity for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Last May, ICI launched a new podcast, Boldly Challenging Ableism, which gained immediate popularity. The show is designed to target the myths that marginalize those with disabilities in an engaging and thought-provoking way.

These are just a few of the many stories you will find in this issue. I hope you enjoy them and learn something new. It will continue to be a challenging year for higher education—in CEHD we are poised to expand our opportunities for making a difference. Look through this issue and find ways to connect and join us in this important work. Have a happy fall!

–Michael C. Rodriguez
CEHD Dean and Campbell Leadership Chair in Education and Human Development