From the Dean

Fall 2024

In my 20-plus years of attending or presiding over undergraduate convocations, University Commencements, and doctoral hooding ceremonies, I’ve seen my fair share of caps and gowns.

Yet our School of Communication Class of 2024 convocation last spring stood out to me as different—special. This, you see, was “my class”; I became dean in August 2020, and these students entered Northwestern the following month. As I said to them in my opening remarks, we had to navigate these major milestones together but from a distance: my steering the school out of a crisis and their beginning their adult lives remotely —from their childhood bedrooms, no less. The point I wanted to make was that as hard as it is to revisit those challenging times, we should celebrate making it through, making our way, and making connections when it seemed like the universe was doing everything it could to rip us apart.

It was a grand celebration. The inimitable and multitalented Billy Eichner (C00) delivered the convocation address, and graduate Orly Lewittes (C24) gave remarks on behalf of the students (remember that name; she is going places). I sang a song, we cheered each other on, and another cohort of exceptional humans entered the Northwestern alumni community.

An unexpected byproduct of this year’s ceremony was that it gave me an injection of excitement for the future. Optimism is always baked into graduation, but the last few years’ celebrations have been tempered with uncertainty. Blame Covid, blame politics, blame unrelenting global violence. But this year something shifted; fear was out, and joy was very much in.

This energy has sustained me throughout the summer and is now redirected to our incoming first-year class, our outstanding community of faculty scholars and artists, and the eminence our school enjoys on a national and global scale. To wit, new collaborations across the methodological spectrum are producing real, measurable impact for our students and the surrounding community; storied traditions and legacies are reaching new audiences with the help of some of our most recognizable School of Communication faces; and distinguished alumni joined forces to combat destructive lies and disinformation.

Recent events, however, are testing my optimism. When I feel myself slipping into a state of despair or dread, I stop and remember to put my faith back into the community we’ve created. I take stock of all that we’ve been through together. I continue to be inspired by your demonstrated resilience and fortitude.

Remembering what we endured together is helping me envision a way forward. You give me hope.

Despite my (and our) very real fears, this school and all the individuals who make it work have me “in my feelings”—and the prevailing feeling is gratitude.

We have a hard road ahead, but I see brighter days too.

E. Patrick Johnson
Dean, School of Communication
Annenberg University Professor