Thinking Forward: Reflections from Our Conversations
William & Mary President Katherine A. Rowe sent the following message to the campus community Dec. 6, 2018. - Ed.
Dear faculty and staff,
During this season of gratitude, I am thankful for the warmhearted welcome you have shown me. In our conversations – formal and informal – you have shared your personal values, experiences and hopes for William & Mary, allowing me to get to know our community in a way that is both broad and deep.
I am especially grateful for your energetic and robust reflections on the Future of Knowledge, Future of Work and Future of Service. This fall, I listened closely to our community – undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends; the excitement and thoughtfulness in these conversations was palpable. We have sifted out three key themes that ran through all of our discussions as well as the dominant patterns of response under each different topic.
As I shift to the process of reflecting back what I have heard, your reactions will further refine our thinking about the future of William & Mary. To enable this in a substantial way, we will keep the website open for comments through Charter Day. I know that the end of the semester is always a busy time on campus. I hope the holiday break will afford the space for those who have not had a chance to join the discussions to do so, virtually, by reviewing the materials we have gathered and sending us your thoughts.
Above all, at this change of seasons, I wish you good health and joyful time with friends and family. Let me add that especially during this busy time of heightened stress, at the end of the semester, if you see a colleague or student in need, please reach out. Thank you for all you do make this community a vibrant place to live and work.
Warmest wishes for a marvelous holiday season,
Katherine A. Rowe