To Our University of Miami Community,
As the Spring semester ends, we honor the academic achievements of over 4,100 graduating students during commencement this week, we note the U.S. government’s official end of the Covid-19 public health emergency on May 11, and we celebrate the end of this academic year.
Endings signal a transition from one stage to the next. Graduation, the end of a semester and academic year, and the official end of the pandemic poignantly converge at this moment, creating a transition of hope, excitement, and the promise of new opportunities.
As we reflect upon these milestones, we are reminded of the remarkable transformation taking place at the University of Miami and in each of us.
Throughout this academic year, we have witnessed the power of collaboration and progress. Despite declining enrollment at higher education institutions around the country, our application numbers continue to rise.
The university is pushing the envelope in shaping academic, healthcare, and research innovation with exciting developments like a new three-year interdisciplinary degree program in Innovation, Technology, and Design, the opening of the Frost Institute for Chemistry and Molecular Science, the
Desai Sethi Urology Institute, and our Climate Resilience Academy.
March Madness also proved to be an extraordinary moment for our Miami Hurricanes Athletics program with the recent triumphs of our Men’s and Women’s basketball teams. Building brighter leaders and champions and creating opportunities for all are key priorities at the U.
One of the initiatives on the Roadmap to Our New Century 2.0 is to create 100 new endowed chairs. I am pleased to share that we are on pace to surpass our “100 Talents” goal within the next few months. As ’Canes, we focus on continuous improvement. When we set a goal and meet it, we set an even more aggressive goal. In terms of attracting talented faculty, there is no finish line, so we will begin calling these our “Centennial Talents” and see just how far beyond 100 we can get by 2025. We will continue to meet and exceed expectations.
As the U approaches its 100th birthday—something we will celebrate in precisely 698 days—we build on the staying power of a university determined to improve and steeped in a tradition of resilience and renewal.
Those who came before us taught us that the future does not simply happen, it is built by people, based on the choices they make.
Our education extends far beyond the boundaries of the classroom and empowers us to think critically, to dream boldly, and to make a difference in the lives of others. We close this academic year on a focused note, equipped with the knowledge and skills to make a lasting impact, to shape the future, and to leave an indelible mark on the world.
If we apply our talents, ideas, and passions to the challenges before us, we will deliver what our communities need. |
