I WILL SOON STEP DOWN as dean of the Kennedy School. As I begin to pack up my office and prepare for a year’s sabbatical, I want to express my sincere thanks to those who have helped make my tenure such a satisfying one.

These last eight years have been a challenging, exhilarating journey — full of growth and accomplishments for the school — at a time when good governance and the call to service have never been more critical.

Events around the world — the crisis in the Middle East, the increase in terrorist activity that tragically reached our shores on September 11, the overwhelming poverty and disease that persist in many regions — demand new levels of public leadership and governance. The Kennedy School community — through its highly capable alumni, both here and abroad; its talented faculty; and dedicated staff — have risen to meet that challenge.

Together we have accomplished so much. In the past eight years, we have expanded faculty by more than 40 percent, doubled the number of tenured and tenure-track female faculty, and increased the number of minority faculty. Our curriculum has grown to meet the needs of the times, expanding to include programs in human rights, public leadership, international development, democratic governance and innovation, and women’s programs.

As I’ve traveled around the world during the last eight years, I’ve had the satisfaction of seeing firsthand the tremendous impact the school is making. Our alumni — both here and abroad — are serving in highly placed positions at all levels of government and non-governmental programs. In February, I took a two-week tour of Asia where I had the pleasure of meeting India’s chief secretary and Singapore’s chief of police, both of whom were Kennedy School classmates of Hong Kong’s top civil servant, with whom I also visited. I also signed agreements with universities in China and Singapore to continue our assistance as they develop new schools of public policy. We have made similar agreements with universities in Mexico and Vietnam. Just this week I learned that three current students are running for Congress (from both parties) and several are on leave to work on Presidential campaigns.

The school’s successes and accomplishments in the last decade belong to us all. None of this could have happened without the enormous talent, dedication, and energy of Kennedy School faculty, staff, students, and alumni. I wish the new dean well, knowing that he or she is working with the very best and the brightest in addressing a challenging new era.

Joseph S. Nye, Jr., Dean

Photo: Paula Lerner