PAW Pages

The following is an archive of columns written for "The President's Page" in the Princeton Alumni Weekly.

2022-2023 Academic Year

A Burst of Momentum for Fusion Energy
Feb. 7, 2023

"A Burst of Momentum for Fusion Energy" was first published in the February issue of the Princeton Alumni Weekly.

For more than 70 years, Princeton University has been a major center of fusion energy research, pursuing one of the grandest challenges…

Service Through a New LENS
Jan. 9, 2023

Service Through a New LENS first appeared in the January 2023 issue of the Princeton Alumni Weekly.

In the first PAW page of my presidency, back in September 2013, I emphasized that an ethic of service was fundamental to Princeton’s mission. I called…

Princeton’s Tradition of Institutional Restraint
Nov. 7, 2022

Princeton’s Tradition of Institutional Restraint first appeared in the November 2022 issue of the Princeton Alumni Weekly.

When I was a Princeton undergraduate, University departments communicated…

On Free Speech
Nov. 1, 2022

On Free Speech first appeared in the November 2022 issue of the Princeton Alumni Weekly.

This year, Princeton’s orientation program for incoming undergraduates included a new module on free speech. I spoke to the entering students at that session. Here…

Opening Exercises 2022: Place and Presence
Oct. 15, 2022

Opening Exercises 2022: Place and Presence first appeared in the October 2022 issue of the Princeton Alumni Weekly.

For Opening Exercises on September 4, we gathered on the front lawn of Nassau Hall to welcome the largest…

Commencement 2022: The Value of Persistence
Sept. 15, 2022

Commencement 2022: The Value of Persistence first appeared in the September 2022 issue of the Princeton Alumni Weekly

On May 24, 2022, I had the pleasure of presiding over Princeton’s 275th Commencement and my ninth as president…

Class of 2020 On-Campus Commencement: Entangled with Princeton
July 15, 2022

Class of 2020 On-Campus Commencement: Entangled with Princeton first appeared in the July 2022 edition of the Princeton Alumni Weekly.

On May 18, 2022, I had the tremendous pleasure of welcoming members of the Class of…

2021-22 Academic Year

Princeton Pre-Read 2022: Every Day the River Changes
June 15, 2022

Princeton Pre-Read 2022: Every Day the River Changes first appeared in the June 2022 edition of the Princeton Alumni Weekly.

When I took office in 2013, I created the Princeton Pre-read. Each year, I select a book to…

Addressing Climate Change
May 3, 2022

Addressing Climate Change was originally posted in the May 2022 edition of the Princeton Alumni Weekly.

Alumni often ask me what the University is doing to address the climate crisis. Here is what I tell them. —C.L.E.

Climate…

Aiming for Transformation: How We Fli at Princeton
April 4, 2022

"Aiming for Transformation: How We Fli at Princeton" was originally posted in the April edition of the Princeton Alumni Weekly.


Fli students in front of Nassau Hall.
Dooley/Fotobuddy

A New Phase for Quantum Science at Princeton
March 7, 2022

"A New Phase for Quantum Science at Princeton" was first published in the March 2022 Issue of the Princeton Alumni Weekly.


From left: Quantum scientists Nathalie de Leon, Jeffrey Thompson, Robert Cava…

James A. Baker III ’52: A Tribute to George Shultz ’42
Nov. 29, 2021

James A. Baker III ’52: A Tribute to George Shultz ’42 first appeared in the December 2021 issue of the Princeton Alumni Weekly.

My wife Lori and I flew to California to attend the memorial service for Secretary George Shultz ’42…

The Rankings Mishegoss
Nov. 1, 2021

"The Rankings Mishegoss" was originally published in the November 2021 edition of the Princeton Alumni Weekly.

Princeton has again topped the U.S. News & World Report’s rankings, and alumni are sending me congratulatory e-mails.

I reply…

Opening Exercises 2021: "Milimeters"
Oct. 4, 2021

Opening Exercises 2021: "Milimeters" was first published in the October 2021 issue of the Princeton Alumni Weekly.

Members of the Class of 2025 attend Opening Exercises wearing t-shirts representing their residential…

The President's Blog
Sept. 6, 2021

'The President's Blog' was first published in the September 2021 edition of the Princeton Alumni Weekly.

Last October, I launched a blog designed to provide an informal, easy way to communicate with the Princeton community. Posts are usually brief, topical, and…

Commencement 2021: Together Six Feet Apart
July 5, 2021

Commencement 2021: Together Six Feet Apart was first published in the July issue of the Princeton Alumni Weekly.

Held in Princeton Stadium to accommodate social distancing, the Commencement 2021 proceedings were moving, joyous, and…