Nothing as Expected: The Year that Was…

piatarola@fsu.edu INTRODUCTION This presidential essay, much like the times in which it was initially written, centers on the human experience and the Divine Providence through which our lives are shaped and our interactions with others take purpose. While past presidents of the Association for Education Finance and Policy (AEFP) have reflected upon the trajectory of the organization, of the state of research, of policy, of the interaction of research and policy, I reflect upon a fundamental shift in the world that we as an organization, as members of AEFP, and as human beings, experienced over the past two years—driven by a global pandemic, jarring social unrest, and direct threats to our democratic institutions. We now breathe a bit freer, though no doubt more cautiously. And, now is the time to reflect on where we are.