Dear Alumni and Friends,
The University of Michigan has never wavered in its commitment to serve the people of Michigan by creating and applying knowledge and developing tomorrow’s leaders.
For more than two centuries, our core beliefs in service, education, academic excellence and societal betterment have led this institution and its people to do remarkable work. These ideals guide us still today.
When I accepted the U-M Board of Regents’ request to serve as president on an interim basis earlier this month, the decision was grounded in my deep respect for this institution and all it stands for. Like so many of you, I love the University of Michigan, and I always want to see it succeed.
Working with this outstanding community of students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends reminds me of just how much the university’s public mission is unshakeable. I've seen it once again in the short time since returning to this role. You can see for yourself in our recently released annual report. It shows not only how much our university has accomplished despite challenges posed by the global pandemic, but also the institution’s continued financial stability that serves as a foundation for this important work.
Today, in classrooms and laboratories across our three campuses, students are working with faculty to learn, challenge one another and grow into the leaders our society needs. In clinics and operating rooms, our medical professionals are treating patients from across Michigan and beyond, even as the COVID-19 pandemic nears its two-year milestone in our region. In communities and state-of-the-art facilities, researchers explore ways to alleviate poverty and reduce firearm injuries, develop driverless vehicle technology, preserve our Great Lakes as a global resource and better understand planets hundreds of light years away.
For our state, our students, and us all, the mission of the University of Michigan endures. Please join me as we move forward, together, in this new year.
Sincerely,
