9 August 2023
Dear Team,
With fall semester right around the corner, I want to take a moment to pause and thank you all for the hard work, creativity and planning that has carried us to this point. I’m so grateful for your efforts.
Over the last several months, you’ve spent countless hours reimagining programs, spaces and processes to engage and support students in new and exciting ways. Collectively, we hosted camps, conferences and tournaments, building bridges between the Emory experience and the community. We readied existing spaces with fresh paint, new carpet and repairs, while embracing major remodels and facility upgrades to infuse spirit and warmth into our environments.
We leaned into technology and ingenuity, identifying new avenues to provide critical information to our stakeholders and streamlining our services. And we adjusted to staffing changes, both planned and unforeseen, to continue to evolve our organization in service of our purpose.
All of this hard work will be realized as we welcome our Eagles – new and seasoned – back to campus. I sincerely thank you for all you have done to make this fall semester not only possible, but also an opportunity for our student community to flourish.
Over the next few days, for the first time, half our incoming class will move-in early to participate in pre-orientation programs. Then, we will welcome the rest of the class of 2027 to campus. Each one of us plays an important role in creating a welcoming environment for students and their parents and families.
This is our opportunity to reaffirm their decision to join the Emory community and connect them to support networks that will have a lasting impact on their success here. If you haven’t already, please volunteer to support move-in, orientation and our welcome events
For many on our team, this time of year is also coupled with major personal and family milestones as well as a rush of “back-to-school” considerations. We are busy watching our children proudly begin school or move up a grade. We are sending our loved ones off to college or other places away from home. And, of course, there are the annual appointments and other activities we try to squeeze in before the start of the semester.
There are so many shifts and needs to be addressed simultaneously – both personal and professional. Please know I join you in these major life moments and understand the challenges and the joys we all hold in these realities at the start of Emory’s school year.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this note, these days before move-in encourage us to pause and reflect on where we have been and what is on our horizons.
I am fortunate to work with such a talented team. I know you all will continue to shine brightly for our students and each other as we ensure that every student can take full advantage of the extraordinary learning opportunities at Emory. Let’s go forth this semester to support our students in feeling they are welcome and that they belong.
Warmly,