30 Minutes ago in New York City, Michael J Fox was confirmed as, See it!

University President Minouche Shafik framed the appointment as a “revolutionary act.” She emphasized that in a world often defined by cynicism and systemic trauma, the study of optimism is not a luxury, but a survival necessity. While the title “Professor of Optimism” might seem whimsical, the curriculum is rooted in neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to form new neural connections throughout life. Fox will lead advanced seminars challenging students to view hope not as a fleeting emotion but as a “cognitive discipline” that can be practiced and strengthened. He will explore how the brain responds to adversity and how deliberately focusing on “the possible” can physically enhance resilience.

A central feature of this initiative is the “Fox Fellows” program, a generously funded grant for graduate students studying neuroplasticity and trauma recovery. True to Fox’s style, the program includes a quirky requirement: every final project must include “one impractical idea that makes the world more joyful.” This underscores Fox’s belief that progress is often sparked by “unreasonable” dreamers who refuse to accept the status quo. By demanding joy as a metric of success, the program humanizes the often-sterile environment of research, reminding future scientists and doctors that the ultimate goal is enhancing the human experience.

Reaction from Hollywood and the global scientific community has been celebratory and lighthearted. Longtime friend and late-night host Stephen Colbert quipped on social media about awarding “A’s” for essays on time travel. Medical luminaries like Dr. Sanjay Gupta praised the appointment as the “missing link” in modern medicine, noting that while the mechanics of the brain are well-treated, the “human spirit” inhabiting it is often overlooked. Even Fox’s former Family Ties co-star, Meredith Baxter, joined the chorus, observing that the fictional Alex P. Keaton—a character defined by ambition—had finally found a mission worthy of his energy.

Fox’s lecture series, titled Back to the Future: Building Tomorrow With Today’s Hope, debuts this fall and is already predicted to be the most over-enrolled course in Columbia’s history. The syllabus blends biographical storytelling with rigorous inquiry into how individuals can “outsmart fate.” Fox has long argued that while we cannot control the cards we are dealt, we have total autonomy over how we play them. His philosophy will be the cornerstone of teaching, pushing students to look past the “limitations of the now” to envision a future that is not merely manageable but vibrant. His presence on campus is intended as a living laboratory, demonstrating that a diagnosis is not a period, but a comma in a much larger story.

Beyond lectures and fellowships, this appointment represents a cultural milestone. It challenges the traditional hierarchy of academia, long privileging theoretical knowledge over experiential truth. By naming Michael J. Fox a professor, Columbia makes a bold statement: the most profound lessons in resilience are not found in textbooks—they are learned through navigating darkness and returning with light for others. Fox’s office hours, he joked, will involve “laughing at bad jokes and plotting against destiny,” likely becoming a pilgrimage for students seeking more than a degree—they will be seeking a way to be human in a difficult world.