Dear Tulane Students,
Welcome to a new academic year at Tulane University! My name is Sarah Cunningham and I have the absolute honor of serving as your Vice President of Student Affairs. Now in my fourth week at Tulane, I am thrilled to see our campus come alive with the energy, creativity, and ambition that each of you bring. I have had the pleasure of meeting many of you already, and I’m looking forward to meeting many more new faces in the coming weeks and months. You will probably see me walking around the campuses and I am always looking to learn more about our students, so please do stop me to say hello. I am also doing an interview with The Tulane Hullabaloo this week, so you can learn a little more about me there.
Whether you are returning to campus or joining us for the first time, know that you are part of a vibrant community that is dedicated to fostering your success and cares about your wellbeing. We continue to strive to build a campus environment that is inclusive, supportive, and reflective of the diversity that makes Tulane unique and that drew me to this institution. For example, at Campus Health and Wellness, we are launching new initiatives to promote mental health and wellbeing. This includes a new wraparound system of healthcare and wellness services that offer 24/7 access to telehealth for physical and behavioral healthcare as well as health coaching, including crisis management and mental health coaching. Visit the Campus Health and Wellness website to access all of the wellness resources available to you, including our Wave of Support resources too!
As you may have read in the recent campus-wide message from President Fitts, Provost Forman and Senior Vice President Norton, we are in the process of hiring an associate director for civic engagement and expression. We look forward to welcoming this new staff member who will collaborate with students and campus partners to build relationships and community while furthering the mission of Student Affairs—to cultivate support, connection, and growth throughout the student experience. Hearing directly from students is important at Tulane. To learn more about your individual Tulane experiences, I will host monthly conversation sessions that you can schedule with me here.
As you navigate your journey at Tulane, I encourage you to take full advantage of the resources and opportunities available to you, get involved in campus life, and contribute your voice to the important conversations that shape our community. Try and explore new things, but also give yourself space and grace. There’s no obligation to try everything all at once. And remember to leave time to sleep, eat, and create memories with your friends! You can also discover new ways to get involved on campus at the Fall 2024 Student Activities Expo which will take place Sunday, September 1.
On behalf of the entire Division of Student Affairs, I want to extend a warm welcome to each of you and hope to see you soon! Please be safe and enjoy the long holiday weekend!
Roll Wave!
Sarah K. Cunningham, Vice President of Student Affairs
