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Dear Student Affairs Colleagues,
We are entering a season of learning, growth, and celebration as we move towards the end of the semester. The opportunities for connection and reflection abound this month and also come in rapid succession. With such a quick pace, it’s important to stop along the way and consider the value of each activity while also pulling back to see the tapestry that weaves together to create and evolve our campus culture.
Last week a Student Affairs delegation visited UNM Gallup where we connected with Student Affairs leaders to learn more about how students are being served in this special place and how we can coordinate and align our work to create a seamless student experience. I was deeply impressed by and grateful for our Gallup colleagues, particularly their efforts to stand up a Native American Student Services unit, and look forward to welcoming them back to our campus soon as our collaboration blossoms.
On Monday evening, I helped celebrate a group of influential and inspiring students at the McNair and Research Opportunity Program Emerging Scholars Ceremony, celebrating program completers and graduates, and welcoming in the newest cohort of this enduring and influential program. Hearing the research topics and academic pathways of these student leaders was re-centering as we continue to cultivate communities of research excellence at UNM.
Yesterday, I was fortunate to help kick off The Real Flex: Engaging Men and Masculine People in Violence Prevention, a day-long workshop co-sponsored by the Women’s Resource Center and Sigma Chi Fraternity. Efforts like these that focus on bystander intervention are critical to ensuring our campus is a safe and healthy place for all.
On the topic of culture, this week Dyad Strategies is conducting their site visit as we seek to learn more about culture and attitudes among our fraternities and sororities and develop a data-informed plan to collaborate positively on leadership practices and social responsibility in this space. With so much activity, the time certainly seems to fly by this time of year, so let me pause here and say a continued thank you! Without our Student Affairs team, these large-scale efforts would not be possible nor would the thousands of individual interactions that keep our students going in the sprint towards finals. You are appreciated and make a difference each and every day.
With appreciation,
Eric
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