Our new director, Margot Jackson, offered some brief remarks to the crowd of faculty members, postdocs, graduate students, and staff. With gratitude to previous director Susan Short and former associate director Zhenchao Qian, she shared her enthusiasm for the opportunity to contribute to the continued growth of the Center. Margot also noted that she and associate director Andy Foster, who is leading the training program at PSTC, are always available to help provide guidance and answer questions as the community engages with the diverse, interdisciplinary work of demography. She reiterated that the PSTC’s mission–the reason we are all here–is to conduct, encourage, and support groundbreaking research that helps provide a better understanding of the social, political, and economic forces that shape population dynamics. 

It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and to meet new members of our community at the reception! We wish everyone an enjoyable, productive semester and look forward to seeing you at upcoming PSTC Colloquia talks as well as at the many workshops and training opportunities happening at our Center this fall.