On Sunday, May 9, I watched our students walk, dance, skip, and jump for joy as they took those celebrated steps of transition from an undergraduate student to a UT alum. It was a historic day – not only because we were in Neyland Stadium for the first time – but also because this graduating class made it to commencement despite the global pandemic that disrupted all our lives. I am incredibly proud of each of them.
Thank you for the role you played in helping our students make it to the graduation stage. Also, thank you for helping our returning students feel supported during the past year. I hope each of you have the opportunity for a summer of recovery and return to campus in the fall prepared for a new year that will be better than the last one. Of course, it will not be exactly like the years prior to the pandemic – if we can even recall what those pre-pandemic years were like on campus!
We will continue publishing Dialogue this summer and provide updates on diversity initiatives in the college, news from departments, and other items to prepare us all for the fall semester.
Again, thank you for your work and dedication to the college and university during the past year. I look forward to seeing you on campus!
Sincerely,
Theresa M. Lee
Dean, College of Arts and Sciences