Dear colleagues, 

It’s with a lot of sadness that I have told Bob that I am leaving OU this summer. I cannot adequately express how grateful I am for the opportunity that this department gave me when I was hired in 2016. I do not know where I would be without that opportunity, but I cannot imagine being more fortunate and fulfilled professionally or personally. I have received incredible support from the Department, the University, and the community, and I will always consider myself to be lucky to have had the chance to work here with you all.  

Over the last year I have struggled with my work-life balance and I am making this change so that I can put family first. With the return of more in-person obligations, Jess and I have been trying to determine how to have a future where we spend as much time together as we have over the first year of our boys’ lives. With one of our sons needing to see specialist periodically at hospitals in Columbus (he’s OK, just FYI!), and my wife commuting more to Cincinnati for work than she has over the past two years, it’s become clear to me that the best option is for me to make a change. This is why I am leaving OU at the end of the summer. While I am happy and grateful for my what is next for me, I hope you all believe when I write that I feel some trauma associated with pulling up my roots here. Many of you have been very kind and gracious to me over the years and it’s had an immeasurable (positive) effect on my life. Even small interactions with you as faculty have been opportunities for me to learn and grow and I cannot thank you enough.  

Please don’t hesitate to reach out or keep in touch. I will miss you all, and the department, a great deal.  

With gratitude,

Joe