I'm thrilled to be joining @Cornell as the Harold Tanner Dean of @CornellCAS. Cornell’s longstanding commitment to "any student, any study" aligns perfectly with my own values and commitments. The College plays a central role in that. I feel so lucky and can't wait to start.

I never met Gordon Wood, but I have a story about him. In one of my grad school seminars, we read Wood’s Creation of the American Republic. The sheer erudition and evidentiary depth of the book bowled me over. Back then, before kids and before life accelerated to warp speed, I used to call my mother every Sunday to catch up. Lots of times, we ended up talking about what I was reading that week in my grad seminars or for leisure. Mom had an omnivorous mind, and she was always looking for something else to read. She was a true intellectual—curious about almost everything, always eager to integrate new arguments or ideas into her existing schemas of how the world worked or to have those schemas challenged and changed. When we talked that particular Sunday, I think I tried to describe to her part of Wood’s argument about the relationship between the state constitutions during the Articles of Confederation era and the federal Constitution. Maybe I was tired, maybe I didn’t completely understand her questions, but the end result of the conversation was that Mom had questions about Wood’s argument that I didn’t answer satisfactorily. I told her that she should probably just read the book, and we said goodbye. She did eventually read the book, but the next Sunday, Mom started our conversation by saying, “Well, I had a lovely conversation with Gordon Wood this week.” For a split second, I thought she was joking, but then I remembered who I was dealing with. I started to sweat. “How?” I asked. A whole variety of unlikely scenarios in which the foremost historian of the American Revolution and my mother, who lived in Wichita, Kansas, might have met ran through my mind. “Oh, I just looked up his office phone number on Brown’s website and called, and he picked up!” Mom said. I decided I would have to find another profession. As it ended up, Gordon Wood spent about an hour on the phone with my mother answering her questions about the Constitution. Ever since, I’ve had a soft spot for the man when I imagine him picking up the phone in Providence and finding Becky Elder from Wichita on the other end of the line. His generosity in that moment spoke very well of him. Rest in peace, professor.

Here is the full pregame ceremony honoring the late great Ken Dryden ‘69.

Read @BeaMagistro, @SBorwein, @rmichaelalvarez, @bartbonikowski, and @PeejLoewen on how policymakers can manage AI layoffs in a way that helps “restore faith in government”: foreignaffairs.com/united-st…

Shame Bill Buckner couldn't see this.

Today is @MountAllison Homecoming, featuring Eric Lapointe, the greatest Canadian college player of all time. Here is his great induction speech into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. It makes me proud to be a Canadian and an Allisonian. youtube.com/watch?v=7JZG9N2T…

I'd start by pointing out that The Game, for better or worse, is basically unchallenged as the best nonfiction book about pro hockey. There's no true equivalent in football or basketball; for baseball 50 people would give 30 different answers.

We mourn the loss of Ken Dryden ’69, a Cornell hockey legend and NHL icon, who passed away at 78. His 76 wins, 1967 NCAA title, and six Stanley Cups with Montreal inspired us all. Ken’s brilliance as a student-athlete and leader will always be remembered. news.cornell.edu/stories/202…

Above it all, he embodied the best of Canadian culture and none of its shortcomings. He wanted to be the very best in all he did, but he did it humbly and quietly. He was unflappable and tough as nails. He cared deeply for others and sought to dignify them.

Let’s all remember that it is pronounced gary-mander. As though it was named after Gary Shandling, not Jerry Seinfeld.

Best workshop going!!

🚨 We are excited that the Toronto Political Behavior Workshop is back for its 11th edition! 📍Nov 7–8, 2025 @UofT_PolSci @munkschool @UofT Apply to present a paper/poster by July 11 More info & app: nyu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/S… @dktr_dr @EricMerkley @SBorwein #MichaelDonnelly

I think this is a very good thread on how to subject nudges to fair tests.