I read recently about the winds that have enabled passenger planes to fly faster than usual, with a Virgin Atlantic jet leaving Washington Dulles airport and arriving at London Heathrow 45 minutes ahead of schedule. The plane reached a highly unusual peak of 802 mph according to a Washington Post article. This is becoming more common. I take this route frequently when visiting our CASE office in London and working with members in Europe; a 45-minute early arrival is significant. I have also experienced the reverse—flights traveling westward taking longer because of the headwinds.

This feels a particularly apt metaphor for the context in which we work. On the one hand, we are at institutions that seem to be moving faster than ever, with raised expectations, new opportunities, and increased institutional complexity. We are seeing strong commitment to our institutions, as evidenced by alumni engagement, philanthropic support, community interaction, and, most fundamentally, student interest in attending our institutions.