To the IRC community,

I am delighted to be joining you all as the Principal of the International Residential College. To me, the IRC is the best of both worlds, grounded in the community of UVA but with a perspective on the global horizon. Your fellow residents come from all walks of life, and from all over the world – you have the opportunity to share customs, traditions, and philosophies with each other.

The 2026-2027 academic year is themed around “Revolution,” both in honor of the country’s 250th anniversary, as well as in pursuit of the recurring hope for social progress and human dignity. As your Principal, I’ll be hosting a series of events—including a community read, teas with professors, and an IRC “Spring Break” abroad in Paris—centered around this theme. Please join me in these conversations and experiences as an opportunity to extend your intellectual life beyond the classroom, to encounter new perspectives, and to collectively reflect on what revolution has meant (and may yet) mean for our shared world.

I hope you find the IRC to be a place of communion, curiosity, and optimism in your time here. I look forward to living and learning with you in the year ahead.