We have come to the end of another year and, as you leave for the winter break, I want to say thank you for your passion for excellent teaching, research, service, outreach, and support of the college and the university. It shows in the success of our students, the important strides made in research, and the value brought to the community through both venues. A special thanks to our hard-working staff whose efforts in offices and laboratories across the college provide essential support to students and faculty.
It has been a year of transition on campus. From a new Provost to an Interim Chancellor and an Interim President, we have opportunities to infuse our university with new ideas about what it means to be a Vol and what we can accomplish as a land-grant institution. I look forward to hearing what new priorities are important to you.
Despite the discord in our country that made its way onto our campus, I am proud of our community for standing up to hatred and intolerance. I applaud our students, faculty, and staff for promoting respect for diversity, cultural variety, and inclusion within and outside the classroom. Thank you for your part in cultivating a climate of civility on our campus.
Congratulations to the outstanding faculty and staff recognized during our annual awards ceremony. I am honored to work with you and excited to see what the future holds for our college.
Finally, I hope everyone gets a chance to rest while we are on winter break. Enjoy spending time with your family, friends, and community and come back rested and ready to hit the ground running in the new year. Happy holidays!
Sincerely,
Theresa Lee
Dean, College of Arts & Sciences