President’s speeches, letters, and articles
Subject: Welcome to Spring Semester 2024
January 23, 2023
Dear Reed Community,
Welcome back for the start of the spring semester. Thank you all for your patience and perseverance as we weathered last week’s ice storm. I am again impressed by the deep care this community shows for each other. I want to thank all of you, and in particular acknowledge Facilities, Community Safety, Bon Appetit, and Residence Life for their work through a difficult situation, as well as the students who helped shovel snow and ice.
We have much to celebrate on campus from the past months, with more to look forward to this semester. So far this year, 53 students have applied for nationally competitive fellowships, and we expect more students to apply as some awards are still open. You can see the students and alumni who won awards for this year on the Center for Life Beyond Reed fellowships and awards page.
Faculty continue to have their research recognized and honored with grants and awards totalling nearly $2 million. Since the start of the fiscal year, faculty from across disciplines have been awarded grants from organizations such as the J.M. Kaplan Fund — Furthermore Foundation, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Murdock Charitable Trust, and the National Science Foundation. The world-class research conducted by our faculty continues to contribute to our understanding of the world.
Staff members also shared their expertise as they presented at professional conferences around the country, hosted by organizations such as the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE); Council of Independent Colleges (CIC); National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education; National Association of Fellowship Advisors (NAFA); and the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE).
As we come back together, I am hopeful that we can continue to approach each other with good will and empathy as we live, learn, and work on our campus. As members of this distinctive community of learners, with a shared dedication to open-minded inquiry, it is crucial that we seek out opportunities to speak with those who may think very differently from us.
I am glad once again to be immersed in the energy a new semester brings. I look forward to the performances, research, and talents that will be showcased in the coming weeks. Spring always feels like a particularly busy semester. Time will pass quickly, so be sure to make space for rest and for the friends and family who support you and lift your spirits.
I am grateful to be part of this community.
Sincerely,
Audrey