Message from the Outgoing Editor
Brian R. Little , Harvard University and Carleton University

Brian R. Little

When Rich Lerner asked me to edit a newsletter for SSHD I was delighted to say "yes". It offered the possibility of increased collegial contact with faculty, students and staff affiliated with SSHD and to contribute in a small way to the shape of our developing organization. Now that we have finished a two year cycle of four issues, I will be stepping down and turning the Networker over to Ty Patridge, who has been actively involved in the production of the last two issues.

This is my opportunity to thank Ty, who will bring to the Networker a keen enthusiasm and a sense of the larger picture of SSHD and the importance of being connected. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank those who contributed to the inception and early development of the Networker. I benefited from your collegial willingness to submit material and the technical wizardry of the Tufts crew. From our first meeting at the Murray Center two years ago, to the last few days, you have responded to my poking and nudging with collegial good cheer.

I have a chance now to revisit and reflect on my original aspirations for the Networker. There are certain bread and butter functions served by a newsletter, such as reports from committee chairs, announcements and updates on the society's various projects. This much we have been able do. But I had also hoped to provide something more--to provide a sense of some of the programs, faculty research and student activities that make the field of developmental science so exciting. Our features on four different schools, almost literally from the four corners of our North American neighborhood "block" have, I think, added a personal side to the more purely informational aspects of the Networker.

However, I had also wished to see some sparks flying in the Networker and encouraged colleagues to give examples of both the delights and frustrations of "doing" developmental science. This has not happened yet, but I hope it will soon. I also hope to see some debates of the sort that are more difficult to publish in archived journals. These would be more informal, even passionate, exchanges between scholars of good will who happen to differ on issues in developmental science. They would certainly not be ad hominem attacks, but they could have a personal, idiosyncratic flair to them that could highlight some of the enduringly contentious aspects of a complex field. I hope these may appear in subsequent issues of the Networker. I also hope that some of us might be moved to contribute speculative ideas, teaching tips, favorite external examination questions, etc. that may prove stimulating to our younger colleagues who are facing with excitement (and trepidation) classrooms of students about to get seduced into developmental science.

I have added a new column this Issue on Transitions (at one point it was Developmental Trajectories but decided Transitions had more utility). In "Transitions" we plan to feature members of the SSHD community who have moved on to new positions or have undergone or created changes that would of interest to their colleagues in developmental science. I asked our President, Jackie James, if she would help us get started on this and her recent move to a major new role at Boston College is featured in the first Transitions column in this issue. We anticipate having several such Transition profiles per issue, in the future.

I thank you all for the honor and pleasure of helping get the Networker started, for the remarkable degree of collegiality you have provided, and wish you all generative, wise and flourishing developmental trajectories.

Warmest regards and Cheers, Brian