To those who are returning to the Munk School, and to those who are joining us for the first time in September: Welcome!
I have worked at universities for most of my career: for me, the new year starts in September, not January. I joined the Munk School of Global Affairs in January 2015 as its second director, following the groundbreaking work by Founding Director Janice Stein. This week, though, feels like my true start.
I have just returned from a 12-day trip in Asia, where I discussed potential student mobility and research partnerships, and possible dual degrees, with influential academic institutions in China and Korea, and explored ways that the Munk School can help the University of Toronto as a whole contribute to the democratic evolution, and economic and social development, of Myanmar.
That’s what we do at Munk: we make global connections and build on the wisdom we create to advocate for solutions to global problems
The summer, at first glance, was quiet at the Munk School: we had the Pan Am Games’ events at venues adjacent to our two locations at 1 Devonshire and 315 Bloor West, so we didn’t see as many guests and events as usual in our summer months.
However, I was delighted when I learned the Munk School was granted full membership status in the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs; as well, our Citizen Lab was awarded a Pioneer Award from the Electronic Frontier Foundation based in San Francisco.
I am honoured to welcome back longtime Munk colleagues, who will be joined by new faculty and staff eager to contribute to our global conversation. To our students – from our first-year Foundation Munk One to our Master of Global Affairs – I look forward to meeting you and welcoming you personally into the Munk School community.
Stephen J. Toope
Director, Munk School of Global Affairs
