Death of Vincent Spenlehauer, Director of Public Policy division

It is with deep sadness that we announce the accidental death of our colleague Vincent Spenlehauer on Friday, July 25. Our thoughts are with his wife, children, and family, to whom we offer our deepest condolences during this difficult time.

As Director of the Public Policy division for fifteen years, which he played a major role in shaping and structuring, he was committed to both the academic excellence of the School and the economic stability of our institution. He was also a demanding administrator when it came to the future of our School.

A rigorous analyst of public policy, he always questioned the meaning and effectiveness of public action, which his training in political science and his research had sharpened. Vincent was a determined man, pushing everyone to give their best, whether they were his students or his colleagues. He was driven by a desire to pass on his knowledge and to provide the State with executives, civil engineers, foresters, architects, and urban planners who were as well trained as possible to meet the challenges of the moment.

In the current decade, he had resolutely focused the center on promoting innovative training programs aimed at supporting the transformation of our administrations in the context of the ecological emergency. Developing the center and making our School a recognized reference within the State in terms of training for public action had always been his greatest ambition. He took this ambition beyond our borders, particularly with our Moroccan and Spanish partners.

Beyond his academic qualities, everyone will remember Vincent as a colleague appreciated by all for his erudition, his cordiality, his humor (he never refused a good joke), his generosity, and his respect for others.

Vincent's professional networks extended far beyond the boundaries of our School. Today, the entire community mourns the loss of a colleague and friend.