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Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026
The Daily Pennsylvanian

SP2 Dean launches tour for 'future of social change'

Social Change Tour

The Dean of the School of Social Policy & Practice is on a mission: he wants to spread the word about SP2.

SP2 Dean John Jackson announced at a launch event on Friday night for his “Future of Social Change” tour that he would be traveling the country with admissions and financial aid officers to recruit students to attend SP2. Part of Jackson’s goal is to increase diversity by recruiting students from underrepresented backgrounds and to build relations with alumni across the country.

“I wasn’t supposed to be working. I was supposed to be in South Africa, taking my time off,” Jackson told the crowd on Friday night. Instead, he is now embarking on his first of a seven year term to learn about and improve SP2.

Jackson’s tour will hit 10 cities across the U.S., including New York, Miami, Atlanta and Washington  Overall, he hopes to increase SP2’s global presence.

When people think of business and Penn, they immediately think of the Wharton School,  Jackson said. His goal is to make SP2 the Wharton of social work — when people think of Penn and social work, he wants them to immediately think about SP2.