Dear Members of the Edmond J. Safra Center Community,

I write to share news that is both joyful and melancholy. Our fantastic Assistant Director, Stephanie Dant, has decided to embrace her calling and to enter into a Masters program in Social Work at Columbia University in the fall. This is an exciting opportunity for Stephanie, and I am thrilled on her behalf that she is able to pursue it. Of course, for those of us at the Center, it is difficult to see someone who has done so much for our community depart. Her last day with us will be August 31st.

We are scheduling a celebration for Stephanie for the afternoon of Friday, August 26th. Details forthcoming.

Stephanie joined the Center for Ethics in 2005 and has served ably under three directors and one interim director, Dennis, Larry, myself, and Arthur, respectively. During that time she has overseen the Center through periods of tremendous growth and transition. All of us know the basic truth that Stephanie has been the person who has kept the place ticking. She has made fellows-in-residence and graduate student dissertation writers feel immediately at home. She helped develop the architecture for the Institutional Corruption Lab. She guides and shepherds the pace of programming for public lectures, workshops, and the like. At end of term gatherings, she ensures that children have toys, games, and age appropriate entertainment. She has built a tremendous staff team at the Center, thanks to her acumen in recruiting, motivating, and retaining highly talented people.

I could, of course, go on and on rehearsing her contributions to matters administrative and collegial. It will not be easy to fill Stephanie's shoes. We will nonetheless work diligently this summer to do so. In the meanwhile, I hope you will join me in offering Stephanie both heartiest thanks and warmest of congratulations. As I've said to her, we will welcome her back at any time.

Yours sincerely,

Danielle S. Allen

Director, Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics; Professor, Department of Government and Graduate School of Education, Harvard University