Dear Alumni,
Welcome to the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University!
Our undergraduates recently came up with this description of our School: “The Small School That Thinks Big.” It definitely fits. As you know, our School is the smallest school at Northwestern, but our goals are massive.
We want no less than to improve all human learning and development — from birth to old age, from classrooms to workplaces, in families and communities. You can be proud that our faculty’s cutting-edge research is developing new understandings and new approaches to learning that suit the realities of the 21st century. For example, major research projects are underway to investigate how after-school programs contribute to adolescent development, how to strengthen real-world learning in science, and how computer models can deepen learning.
The disparities in education and development that trouble our society are problems that we seek to solve. In this regard, we work toward raising the level of teaching in underserved schools and increasing access to quality education and health services.
Our students come to us with the desire to improve the world — whether in schools, in human relationships, in organizations or in the policy arena. We don’t disappoint them. We work to provide our students with the tools they need to become change agents who can better the world. Above all, we give our students the real-world experiences that allow them to translate academic learning into actual accomplishments. Specifically, a ten-week custom-designed practicum in a workplace or school is now a core experience of our undergraduate program.
Our School is small not only in size but also in atmosphere. In fact, in a recent survey Allister Wenzel explained, “Everything about SESP radiates a quality of warmth, and I really feel welcome and appreciated as a SESP student.” Our students appreciate the sense of community at SESP, and we want you to continue to feel part of that community.
We encourage you to keep in touch with the new initiatives at the School of Education and Social Policy. In fact, we invite you to visit campus and participate in our activities and events. Lifelong learning is a goal we all share.
Sincerely yours,
Penelope L. Peterson, Dean
p-peterson@northwestern.edu