Dear Sewanee Family,
Phoebe and I are delighted to be back on the Mountain and grateful for the warm welcome we’ve received from the Sewanee community. We look forward to getting reacquainted with old friends and making new connections here on the Plateau and as we travel to Sewanee Club events across the country. We also look forward to welcoming everyone back to campus whenever you’re able to visit.
As you know, Sewanee is an extraordinary place built on a legacy of academic excellence, a community of tight-knit and long-lasting relationships, and the beauty and restorative power of the Domain. There are amazing things happening today, and our future is one of boundless potential.
Of course, that potential will not realize itself. It must be purposefully acted upon, and I’m grateful to be here to work with all who love this special place to preserve the best of Sewanee, to meet its challenges, to strengthen its virtues, and to equip Sewanee graduates with the skills and knowledge they need to become informed and compassionate citizen-leaders who will make a positive difference in the world.
I accepted the call to be Sewanee’s 18th vice-chancellor not because of nostalgia or to return to something familiar. I accepted the call because I believe I can, with your help, make a positive and meaningful impact on the Sewanee of today and the Sewanee of tomorrow.
I enter this new chapter in the University’s history with excitement and with an abiding commitment to the values that shape Sewanee at its best. In the days ahead, I intend to listen and learn. A series of conversations is scheduled on and beyond campus for this summer and will continue throughout the fall. I want to hear from a wide variety of stakeholders—from my colleagues on campus, from alumni, families, and friends around the world, and of course, from our students.
I’m looking forward to learning more about the exceptional work of our students, faculty, and staff while also gathering candid and insightful input on the challenges we face and the opportunities before us. I want to better understand how and why Sewanee matters in the world today and how we can matter even more in the future. While I know Sewanee well and love it deeply, I have much to learn and will need everyone’s help in my ongoing education about this remarkable place.
Phoebe and I are thankful to be calling Sewanee home once again, just as we are all blessed to be part of this extraordinary and inspiring Sewanee community—here on the Mountain and around the world. We look forward to a bright and promising future together.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
