After Gage’s resignation, Michael Brenes takes helm of Grand Strategy program
In response to Beverly Gage’s resignation announcement, which was motivated by concerns of inappropriate donor influence over the curriculum, Michael Brenes is slated to assume the interim director position next semester.
Zoe Berg, Photo Editor
History professor Michael Brenes has been tapped as the interim director of the Brady-Johnson Program in Grand Strategy, following current director Beverly Gage’s September announcement that she will step down from the position after Yale failed to stave off donor influence.
Gage’s announcement sent shockwaves through the academic community, as she cited inappropriate donor pressure on hiring decisions — namely the imposition of a new advisory board largely populated by the donors’ choice of conservative thinkers. Her resignation also sparked discussion over donor influence and academic freedom within the University. As Yale prepares for Gage’s December exit from the program, Brenes is now set to step in as the interim director for the 2022 program. Brenes, who is currently the program’s associate director, is joined by an independent group of senior Yale faculty who will serve as advisors, guest speakers and a general support system.
“As interim director, I look forward to continuing professor Gage’s vision of grand strategy, one that includes social movements alongside diplomacy and statecraft, and welcomes a diversity of topics, from racial justice to climate change to great power relations,” Brenes wrote in an email to the News.
The faculty group supporting Brenes is composed of professors John Gaddis, Paul Kennedy, Samuel Moyn, Jing Tsu and Arne Westad. Group members have varying degrees of experience with the Grand Strategy program itself, as noted on the program website.
Westad, who has been at Yale for two years and started teaching in Grand Strategy this fall, described Gage’s departure as “quite devastating.” He said that he feels the University’s response has been insufficient.
“I do think that the main problem we have has been that the administration hasn’t been willing, or willing enough, to stand up for the academic independence and integrity of this program,” Westad said. “The University has failed to stand up for the kind of academic integrity and freedom that this and any program at Yale needs.”
Earlier this month, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Senate and the history department — as well as several individual professors — shared views similar to Westad’s, expressing concerns over a threat to academic freedom.
University President Peter Salovey responded with a written statement addressed to Yale faculty on Oct. 1. In the letter, Salovey accepted some responsibility, saying he should have “tried harder to improve the situation,” and expressed his and Yale’s commitment to upholding academic freedom and integrity — particularly in terms of the University’s ongoing fundraising effort, which began on Oct. 2 with the launch of Salovey’s “For Humanity” capital campaign.
“As we begin the public phase of our current fundraising campaign, and in consideration of Professor Gage’s experience, I am giving new and careful consideration to how we can reinforce our fundamental commitment to academic freedom in our engagement with donors,” Salovey wrote.
As of Oct. 28, Westad said there had been little communication on the subject beyond Salovey’s public remarks. He feels that now, the most important task is to “ensure that the University lives up to those commitments.”
To do so, Westad thinks the University should ensure all donor agreements clearly and unambiguously state that donors will have no influence over program delivery.
Westad added that he and the other faculty members in the support group teamed up to offer advice and, if needed, teach classes in the program to provide additional support for Brenes.
“This has nothing to do with the administration or anyone else,” Westad said. “This is just a group of teachers who came together and said that they will help, so that I think is a really positive step forward.”
The program centers around a history course titled “Studies in Grand Strategy” that covers major events from 300 B.C.E. to the present day. It is supplemented by private dinners, among other events, with diplomats, politicians, military personnel, journalists, social activists and other noteworthy figures.
Presently, Brenes and program leadership are receiving and reviewing applications for next semester’s program.
“We remain interested in receiving applications from students coming from a variety of majors and disciplines, and who bring diverse perspectives to the topic of grand strategy,” Brenes wrote to the News.
Interested juniors, first-semester seniors and any graduate students can submit a cover letter, resume and transcript by Nov. 21.
The Brady-Johnson Program in Grand Strategy was established in 2000.