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Christopher Long
By In Education

Integrity as an Expression of Value Enacted Excellence

Before last week's inaugural meeting of the Values Enacted Leadership Institute (VELI) fades too far into memory, let me pause…
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A group of nine adults sit around a red outdoor table at a café, smiling at the camera. The table has drinks, mugs, and condiments, and the setting is sunny with greenery and other diners in the background.
Welcome to the Inaugural Values Enacted Leadership Institute

Welcome to the Inaugural Values Enacted Leadership Institute

July 14, 2025
Corrections in a manuscript
As Federal Funding for Research Breaks Down, New Possibilities Emerge

As Federal Funding for Research Breaks Down, New Possibilities Emerge

June 25, 2025
Provost Long in academic regalia, including a black cap with a yellow tassel, speaks at a podium during a graduation ceremony.
The University is the Beating Heart of a Free Society

The University is the Beating Heart of a Free Society

June 14, 2025
The Public Research University and the Hope of Democracy

The Public Research University and the Hope of Democracy

June 7, 2025
Provost Long with six University of Oregon leaders in advising in business attire smile for a group selfie in a meeting room with large windows, trees and water outside. Sticky notes cover part of the window, and a blank flip chart stands nearby.
Wholeheartedness in a Time of Fear and Uncertainty

Wholeheartedness in a Time of Fear and Uncertainty

May 17, 2025
Rapids on the Willamette River fill the frame of this image, taken from the South side of the river, looking North with evergreens and blue skies and wispy clouds in the background.
Finding New Modes of Communicating as Provost

Finding New Modes of Communicating as Provost

April 26, 2025
James Baldwin in a black suit with tie and a white shirt looks directly at us.
The Hideously Difficult Task Before Us

The Hideously Difficult Task Before Us

December 27, 2024
The view from Spencer's Butte above Eugene, Oregon. A grassy pathway leads to a bank of pine trees in the middle distance. Beyond the trees and far below lies Eugene, OR. In the distance are mountains, the blue sky filled with gray and white clouds.
A Pivotal Week in the Life of the Provost’s Office

A Pivotal Week in the Life of the Provost’s Office

August 20, 2024
Looking up from the ground through the tall Redwoods of the Cathedral Grove in Muir Woods in California. The sky is seen refracted through the branches of the enormous redwoods.
A Touchstone Poem for Leadership by John O’Donohue

A Touchstone Poem for Leadership by John O’Donohue

June 1, 2024
BillHD makes a gesture to a whiteboard off camera. He is sitting around a table with people listening to the point he is making. Sonja is watching Bill with her hand to her face, thinking.
A Letter to Bill Hart-Davidson

A Letter to Bill Hart-Davidson

May 3, 2024
Looking up from the ground through the tall Redwoods of the Cathedral Grove in Muir Woods in California. The sky is seen refracted through the branches of the enormous redwoods.
Using Obsidian Notes to Create Context and Connection for Meaningful Productivity

Using Obsidian Notes to Create Context and Connection for Meaningful Productivity

January 19, 2024
A wooden gate framed by two columns of beige brick covered by green vines with red blossoms opens onto a tiered garden with a birdbath in the center. Off in the distance beyond the garden there are trees in full autumn folliage. The path leading to the bird bath is lined with purple flowers on this sunny November day in the Dumbarton Oaks gardens.
Coalition for the Future Academy

Coalition for the Future Academy

January 18, 2024
A diverse group of people of wide-ranging ages stand in a courtyard in front of a colorful mural of Grace Lee and James Boggs with young people. A young Grace Lee Boggs is in yellow, holding a megaphone to her mouth. Jimmie Boggs, on the right, is in a dark jacket, hands folded in front of me, listening. There is a diverse group of young people between them.
Ubuntu, Drawing, and A Pilgrimage to the Boggs Center

Ubuntu, Drawing, and A Pilgrimage to the Boggs Center

October 21, 2023
A selfie with Chris Long in academic regalia to the right of Dr. Anthony Fauci in the Breslin Center before the 2023 MSU Doctoral graduation ceremony. The wall behind them has a Spartan helmet and images of Spartan Basketball players in action.
Joy and the Gift of Education

Joy and the Gift of Education

May 6, 2023
In the foreground in focus are white values cards with black letters laying on a dark wooden table with words like "Support for Failure," "Holistic," "Accessibility,"Excellence," "Appreciation," written on them. We read the cards upside-down as we look down the table, our perspective at table-level looking toward a woman in a black mask leaning over a computer pointing to something as participants around the table look toward the laptop on the table. The laptop and the people are out of focus at the depth of field is short and the focus is on the cards nearest us on the table.
Finding the Values in Committee Work

Finding the Values in Committee Work

March 16, 2023
A dark wooden desktop has a bouquet of orange, white, and green flowers in a glass cylindrical vase on the left. In the middle is a multi-colored glass trophy in a double helix style on a black base on which the words are inscribed: "Michigan State University Institutional Champion Award for Community Engagement Scholarship Presented to Christopher P. Long, College of Arts and Letters and Honors College 2023." To the right, there is a small lavender bag of lavender with a yellow AAAS button on it. Blurred in the background on the right is an Apple MacBook Pro, the arm of a desk light and behind the trophy and flower are four fountain pens, a journal and a notepad.
Championing Community Engagement at the Heart of the Land-Grant Mission

Championing Community Engagement at the Heart of the Land-Grant Mission

March 4, 2023
The Spartan Rock, painted white, with a green Spartan helmet, on the left and "Always a Spartan" painted on the front. The names of Brian Fraser, Arielle Anderson, and Alexandria Verner, are written in green letters along the bottom. In front of the rock are piles of flowers and a green and white Spartans Will flag laying on mulch front and center of the image. There are three crosses with hearts and fish symbols to the right of the rock.
When Twilight Silence Falls

When Twilight Silence Falls

February 18, 2023
The entangled roots of a large tree with red leaves on the ground. The roots point to the web of relationships that influence authorship, shape collaboration, and enrich scholarship.
A Nightmare and A Dream

A Nightmare and A Dream

February 12, 2023
This is an allegorical image. Against a beige background is the front of a building with pillars in slightly darker beige. Layered on top is a white image of the head, elongated neck, shoulders and upper torso of a person. The head is turned to the right with the outline of hair in a bun. Green, plant-like shapes grow behind the torso, in front of the building. A red heart-shaped heart is superimposed on the chest area of the torso. Three lines extend from the heart each connected to a beige rectangle. The rectangle on the left is almost square, with an icon of an open book in black. On the top right is a rectangle with a line graph with a single line going down and up. Middle right is a rectangle with black musical notes beginning with a treble clef. Five stylized human figures are in the foreground. Moving left to right, a Black woman with wavy black hair in a light pink sweater and dark pants with a red briefcase walks toward the heart. Sitting on the shoulder of the torso is a white woman with brown hair in a light brown top and brown pants reading a red book. There is a white man with brown hair in a white lab coat holding a clipboard in front of the heart. To his right is an Asian woman with shoulder length black hair with a stethoscope in a light brown top and dark brown pants listening to the heart. On the right is a Black man in a pink shirt and light brown pants and a dark brown pork pie hat. He has a conductor's baton and is pointing to the musical notes.
Wholeness in a Torn World

Wholeness in a Torn World

February 5, 2023
Two people sit in gray chairs with dark wooden legs on a small stage with wooden floors. There is a round coffee table made of dark and light wood between them on which is a microphone with a pop filter, papers to which the speakers are referring, and two bottles of water. Amy DeRogatis is on the left, speaking and smiling slightly as she looks down at her paper and talks into the microphone. On the right is Isaac Weiner, grinning broadly as if laughing. On the left of the stage is a fake white tree with cotton "snow" underneath and white lights on the branches. The wall behind the stage is white, broken up with gray/blue squares of fabric designed to dampen the sound. The microphone is attached by a wire that goes to an amplifier that is just visible on the right, behind Isaac. There is a blue light coming out of the bottom of the amplifier.
What Does Religion Sound Like?

What Does Religion Sound Like?

January 28, 2023
The Frederick Douglas statue on the University of Maryland campus depicts, as wikipedia puts it, "Douglass in the middle of a speech, with one arm outstretched, and a copy of his autobiography under the other arm." His mouth is open in a fiery speech. The statue is cast bronze on a black marble block with white text chiseled on front reading Frederick Douglas 1818-1895, on the side, white text is legible that reads: Abolitionist, Suffragist, Labor Leader. The figure is set off to the right of the image with a band of long, wheat colored grasses in the middle background, with three windows of the red brick colonial style building in the distant background.
The Intentional Work of Values-Enacted Change

The Intentional Work of Values-Enacted Change

January 22, 2023
Selfie on stage at the Kellogg Center after the 43rd MLK Dinner at which LeConté Dill gave the keynote. The selfie is taken by Chris Long, who is on the left, with, from left to right, Ruth Nicole Brown, LeConté Dill, Chamara Kwakye, Gianina Strother, and Yvonne Morris. In the background are rows of empty round tables with white tablecloths and black chairs around them.
Power, Love, Justice, and Joy

Power, Love, Justice, and Joy

January 14, 2023
A page from Christopher P. Long's journal, illustrating his daily writing practice. Brown ink on dot grid paper, with a Sailor Realo pen out of focus on lying on the page. The word "Listen" is underlined and legible in his small cursive handwriting. Much of the text on the page is not legible.
Return to Blogging

Return to Blogging

January 7, 2023
The group is gathered around Queen Cherice Harrison-Nelson who is on the right, with Toni Gordon leaning in next to her, Ural Grant on her right, Jessica Reed next to Ural, and in the back, Sharieka Botex and Marquis Taylor. They are in a conference room where the presentation on prioritizing joy in graduate education was given.
Ubuntu As Leadership Practice

Ubuntu As Leadership Practice

December 30, 2022
African and African American Studies students standing in a row, from left to right: Amber McAddley, Morgan Braswell, Jhala Martin, and Ayodele Uhuru. They are listening to Jhala read from a piece of paper with a microphone in her hand. Photo by Ryan Frederick.
A Place of Wholeness

A Place of Wholeness

November 21, 2022
Waves of water caused by drops of water
Toward a More Just and Beautiful Future

Toward a More Just and Beautiful Future

August 16, 2022
Richard Bernstein, in a black turtleneck, hands folded, with chairs, out of focus, in the background. Bernstein was a champion of democracy and democratic values.
Bernstein and the Future of Democracy

Bernstein and the Future of Democracy

July 16, 2022
Field of wild flowers
Values-Enacted Leadership

Values-Enacted Leadership

March 20, 2022
The entangled roots of a large tree with red leaves on the ground. The roots point to the web of relationships that influence authorship, shape collaboration, and enrich scholarship.
Enacting Values of Co-Authorship

Enacting Values of Co-Authorship

March 9, 2022
Linton Hall at MSU
Revolutionary Dean

Revolutionary Dean

February 25, 2022
Ted Loder looking to his right with a joyful smile on his face, with Jan Filing, his wife looking on from behind and out of focus.
The Art of Procrastination

The Art of Procrastination

September 14, 2021
Questions for the Class of 2025
To the Class of 2025: Let Us Begin Again Together

To the Class of 2025: Let Us Begin Again Together

August 31, 2021
Ted Loder making a point, and pointing his finger. Joy on his face.
Love One Another

Love One Another

April 4, 2021
Red Cedar River in Winter, white snow covers the trees on both sides of the river which is beginning to ice over from the banks.
From Productivity to Meaningful Work

From Productivity to Meaningful Work

April 2, 2021
"Hora Quasi Umbra" text on a Sundial
Imagining a Different Future

Imagining a Different Future

March 8, 2021
Compass with directions in the foreground with a distant and unfocused image of the White House in the distance.
The Promise and Perils of Democracy

The Promise and Perils of Democracy

January 7, 2021
Group fo Faculty
The Transformative Power of Values-Enacted Scholarship

The Transformative Power of Values-Enacted Scholarship

December 19, 2020
On Ethical Candor

On Ethical Candor

November 28, 2020
American Flags lined up against a yellow building
Register to Vote

Register to Vote

September 22, 2020
Scales and weights
Indicators of Excellence in the Liberal Arts

Indicators of Excellence in the Liberal Arts

September 15, 2020
Header of MSU campus in the fall.
To the Class of 2024: Embarking on an Education for Action

To the Class of 2024: Embarking on an Education for Action

August 31, 2020
James Baldwin - "I can't believe what you say, because I see what you do."
Open Letter to Our College of Arts & Letters Community

Open Letter to Our College of Arts & Letters Community

June 5, 2020
Original HuMetrics Team sitting outside on a patio at the Rizzo Center in Chapel Hill, NC. From left to right is Jason Rhody, Nicky Agate, Chris Long (sitting in the back), Rebecca Kennison, Stacy Konkiel (standing in the back), and Simo Sacchi.
Syllabus as Locus of Intervention and Impact

Syllabus as Locus of Intervention and Impact

May 28, 2020
To the Class of 2020

To the Class of 2020

May 7, 2020
Field of wild flowers
Deepening Connection in a Time of Distancing

Deepening Connection in a Time of Distancing

April 29, 2020
"Hora Quasi Umbra" text on a Sundial
No Quality Without Equity

No Quality Without Equity

November 9, 2019
Aerial view of the center of MSU campus with intersecting pathways and trees.
Catalyst of Collaboration

Catalyst of Collaboration

October 7, 2019
Dean Long with a photo of himself
To the Class of 2023: Embrace the Adventure

To the Class of 2023: Embrace the Adventure

August 27, 2019
Saint Aubin Park
The Transformative Power of Publishing

The Transformative Power of Publishing

August 5, 2019
A grove of pine trees, looking up from ground level, with evening twilight in the background.
Less Commonly Taught and Indigenous Languages the Focus of $2.5 Million Grant

Less Commonly Taught and Indigenous Languages the Focus of $2.5 Million Grant

July 25, 2019
Connected Ropes
Toward a Culture of Care

Toward a Culture of Care

April 24, 2019
Recognizing Peer Review

Recognizing Peer Review

March 13, 2019
Teal Ribbon on a Tree
Failures to Listen

Failures to Listen

January 24, 2019
Survivors names painted on the MSU Rock
Open Letter Regarding MSU Interim President Transition

Open Letter Regarding MSU Interim President Transition

January 17, 2019
Linton Hall Through A Glass Ball
Living Values

Living Values

November 30, 2018
Six Images of Resilience
2018 Dean’s Report – Resilience

2018 Dean’s Report – Resilience

November 16, 2018
Pittsburgh Bridges 2009
AGLS Keynote – Practicing the Arts of Liberty

AGLS Keynote – Practicing the Arts of Liberty

September 22, 2018
Red Cedar
Bonomi, Rothman, and a Human Rights Approach to Sexual Misconduct in Higher Education

Bonomi, Rothman, and a Human Rights Approach to Sexual Misconduct in Higher Education

September 4, 2018
Original Seal of the Michigan Agriculture College
To the Class of 2022: MSU is an Open Door

To the Class of 2022: MSU is an Open Door

August 28, 2018
Mapping Values to Practices at the #MSUCAL Deans Retreat @thinkspacelab

Mapping Values to Practices at the #MSUCAL Deans Retreat @thinkspacelab

August 6, 2018