President’s Newsletter

Thursday, May 16, 2024

Dear Colleagues,

Tomorrow our entire focus will be on commencement, so I thought I’d get my weekly newsletter out today. As we wrap up the semester, I hope you get an opportunity to reflect on the year, and look for what I like to call “pops of joy” that remind you about the positive things on campus and in life. Some pops of joy I have experienced lately include seeing our students take graduation photos around the fountain or in front of Hartwell Hall, seeing the goslings on campus, and stopping and talking with colleagues on the mall or in Seymour Union.

The ROTC commissioning ceremony was held this morning. This week I was able to meet virtually with the incoming commander for our ROTC program. Major Bailey will be arriving from Germany in August. I want to thank Lieutenant Colonel Nelson for his leadership over the last few years and wish him well in retirement.

I was able to host the final open forum of the year with the Division of Advancement and Communications this week, and I commit to recommencing the forums this fall. I found it a valuable way to get and give information, and I hope that you did, too.

Extended Cabinet met for the last time this semester this week. We had a presentation by three of our restorative champions on the work that they have undertaken this year, which included, for the entire group of more than a dozen champions, 33 restorative circles with 286 participants. This is an essential part of implementing an enhanced campus climate, and I am grateful to the champions for the work and the training they undertook. We will be doing a campaign this fall to highlight their work further, as we expand the program.

Externally, I attended a Willow Domestic Violence Board Meeting and a Chamber of Commerce lunch meeting with Mayor Malik Evans as well as the 2024 Women of Excellence event hosted by the Rochester Business Journal.

Tonight we have our Senior Toast at the Almost Alum Block Party outside of Eagle Hall. Please come along and toast the students and meet their families if you are around. The toast is at 5:15 and the block party goes until 8pm.

See you at Commencement tomorrow!