First, an apology.
It has been a little while since my last post here at The Social Capitalist. Between travel, preparation for new work, and the rhythm of life shifting quickly, the time to sit down and write kept slipping away. But writing—reflection—has always been one of the ways I make sense of the world, so it feels good to return to the page.
And there has been quite a bit happening.
A New Chapter Begins
Next week I begin my new role with the University of Massachusetts Global as Associate Professor of Operations and Project Management.
I’m genuinely excited about this chapter. Teaching has always been one of the places where my ideas about leadership, systems, and human connection come alive. The classroom is not just a place to deliver content—it’s a place where people develop confidence, perspective, and agency.
Operations and project management might sound technical on the surface, but at their core they are about people: how we coordinate effort, build trust in teams, and move complex ideas into reality. I’m looking forward to working with students who are preparing to lead in that kind of environment.
A Timely Escape to Tennessee
In the middle of all this transition, I made a trip down to Tennessee, and the timing could not have been better.
We left New England just ahead of a major blizzard and drove south into something entirely different—sunlight, quiet mornings, and the kind of slow conversations that happen on a back porch with a glass of sweet tea in your hand.
While New England was getting hammered with snow, we were enjoying a little R&R and a reminder that sometimes the best way to regain perspective is simply to step outside your usual environment.
The Paradox of Connection
Of course, not every piece of news has been easy.
Because of the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the Social Capital 2026 conference will now have to be held virtually rather than in person.
There’s a strange irony in that.
A conference dedicated to exploring human connection—how we build it, how we sustain it, how it shapes societies—forced to move online because of the destructive side of human behavior.
Moments like this remind us that the study of social capital isn’t just academic. It matters. The forces that bring people together and the forces that tear them apart are both very real.
Looking Forward Anyway
Despite the shift to a virtual format, I’m still excited to share the research and engage with scholars and practitioners from around the world. Meaningful ideas can still travel, even when circumstances change.
And hopefully, by the time Social Capital 2027 arrives, the world will feel a little steadier—less defined by conflict and more open to the kind of connection we all need.
The Work Continues
So here I am again—back at the keyboard.
A new academic chapter about to begin.
Grateful for time spent with family and friends.
Mindful of the tensions in the wider world.
And still deeply committed to the work of understanding and strengthening human connection.
If anything, the events of the past few weeks reinforce why this work matters so much.
Connection is not automatic.
It is something we build—and protect—together.
— The Social Capitalist
The Official Author Page of Dr. Rick L. Mask (The Social Capitalist) and the Home of Social Capital 2.0 