From the Dean

June 12, 2025

Dear Friends of the Jepson School of Leadership Studies,

As many of you may know, I am a runner. Two weekends ago, I ran a 25-kilometer, 2500-feet-elevation trail race near Roanoke, Virginia. The race was challenging, requiring training, focus, and determination. But the euphoria I felt as I crossed the finish line made it all worthwhile. As I sprint toward the finish line of our 2024–25 year, now only a few weeks away, I feel a similar euphoria. What a terrific year we’ve had!

A highlight of our spring semester was the Jepson Research Symposium, where 14 students presented their research on topics including labor activism, segregation in the city of Richmond, media depictions of murder and morality, and more. A few weeks later, the excitement was palpable when we celebrated our 94 Class of 2025 graduates at Commencement on May 11.

Some recent graduates have accepted jobs with organizations such as CVS Health, Ernst & Young, Bloomberg, and Teach for America. Others are headed to top-tier graduate schools, including the University of Oxford, Johns Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania, and Duke University. I couldn’t be prouder.

In the last four months, our faculty published three books, Drs. Julian Hayter and Christopher von Rueden were promoted to full professors, and the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia presented Dr. Terry Price with an Outstanding Faculty Award.

Our alumni go above and beyond to support the school’s mission to educate the next generation of leaders. Their extraordinary generosity was evident during UR Here Giving Day, April 9–10, when the Jepson School Dean’s Impact Fund raised the most money among the five schools’ funds. Another proud moment came during Reunion Weekend, when three of the four alumni recognized at the awards breakfast were Jepson graduates. You can read about these alums and others in the spring issue of the Jepson Update.

And so, as I approach the finish line of another school year, I feel exhilaration for a race well run and anticipation for the next race to come. Perhaps most importantly, I feel gratitude for the many students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends who ensure the Jepson School sets the pace!

With my sincerest thanks and best wishes,

Sandra J. Peart
Dean and E. Claiborne Robins Distinguished Professor in Leadership Studies
President, Jepson Scholars Foundation