Taking the Northwestern Direction Together
Dear Members of the Northwestern University Community,
With humility and pride, I start serving you today. And as you know better than I, our University is not only preeminent, but also unique. Like the glistening lakeshore, there’s something special about Northwestern. My first step in “Taking a Northwestern Direction” is to learn the tradition, culture and people here at Northwestern, without copying the protocol and practice from other institutions.
A distinct and distinguished character of Northwestern is the pursuit of the Pinnacle of Comprehensive Excellence, across many scholarly, artistic and athletic endeavors. Therefore, to serve Northwestern is to support excellence in all its manifestations and nexuses, more than any subset of disciplines.
And the Wildcats Family is a large one, with all the students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, donors, neighbors and trustees, as well as many more we interact with — from hospital patients and sports fans to public entities and private sector partners. Naturally, people support what they help create. Starting in my very first quarters, I am eager to hear from you: “What do you imagine in your Purple?”
Indeed, in the coming months, my priority is not to make many new announcements but to visit with and listen to you while the myriad operations of this complex organization carry on each day. Grateful for Interim President Bienen’s leadership and the team’s smooth transition, I hope we will continue the steps of rejuvenation, both as an institution and as individuals, in the coming academic year.
Once every few decades, American higher education has been at a crossroads. And throughout the past 175 years, generations of Northwestern students, faculty and staff have faced their challenges, created generational opportunities and elevated the University. In this enduring and proud chronicle of Northwestern, we are now writing a new chapter together.
Thank you, and Go ’Cats!