"I’m proud of all we’ve achieved, but there is so much more to do."

Dear DAVID, Over the last few weeks, I’ve written to you to share words from some of your fellow philosophers about why they donate to support the APA... Your colleagues have spoken about how the APA serves philosophy and philosophers in ways no other organization can. They’ve spoken about how the APA’s diversity and inclusion efforts have helped move the discipline forward, and how the APA brings philosophers together to share their work across disciplinary and subdisciplinary boundaries. And they’ve spoken about how the APA’s advocacy for philosophy and philosophers helps protect and defend individuals, departments, and the field as a whole. In these final hours before the New Year begins, I am thinking back on all we’ve accomplished this year, and all we have planned for 2018. We will launch new prizes, increase collaborations with other disciplinary societies, develop new resources to support philosophy departments, and hold three outstanding conferences. We will continue to increase the role of graduate students in setting the APA’s future directions, and we will connect more with philosophers outside academia to sustain their connections to the discipline and develop diverse career paths for philosophy PhDs. We will grow our journal, support the academic job market, and stand up for philosophy in the public square. Five years into my time as executive director, I’m proud of all we’ve achieved, but I know there is so much more to do.  Each and every contribution makes a real difference to our budget—donations mean more travel funding for philosophers in need, more grants to innovative philosophy programs, more prizes recognizing great work, more resources for the crucial efforts of APA committees. All the best, Amy Ferrer Executive Director P.S. If you make a contribution of $500 or more before the end of 2017, you’ll receive a copy of Portraits of American Philosophy (Rowman & Littlefield, 2013). This book is a collection of Dewey Lectures—autobiographical reflections on philosophy in America—by leading philosophers including Judith Jarvis Thomson, Harry Frankfurt, Marilyn McCord Adams, and Claudia Card.