Dear students, faculty, and staff,

As we finish the fall semester, we enter a special time of gratitude and appreciation. I thank you all for the remarkable work you have done this term—learning and teaching in your classes, conducting world-changing research, creating new works in arts and letters, caring for our patients, supporting our campus operations, and serving our public so generously.

The achievements on this campus are many, and we have much to celebrate. This semester, we welcomed one of the largest, most diverse, and most academically accomplished first-year classes in university history. We opened a spectacular world-class art museum that has already inspired more than 22,000 visitors and hosted 25 university classes per month. We recognized our inaugural class of Mid-Career Faculty Scholar Award recipients, who are enhancing our academic excellence through transformative teaching, research, and creativity. We are supporting more and more students from diverse backgrounds, such as the growing number of First Gen Hawks who are first in family to go to college and achieving great success. And there’s so much more. It’s truly an honor to be part of this incredible university community.

With the upcoming holidays and winter break, we also enter a time to pause our busy lives, to reflect upon the things that bring us happiness and gratitude, and to take time to rest and recharge. This time of year can be joyful but also difficult for many. I encourage everyone to make connections that will support your well-being, and to reach out if you need help or just a caring ear to listen. The university offers many resources to support you now and throughout the year, including Student Wellness, liveWELL, the Employee Assistance Program, and Family Services.

Thank you again for your astounding work this semester, and have a wonderful break with those who are important to you. I look forward to joining you in 2023 for another successful year of Hawkeye collaboration, creativity, and community! 

Warmly,

Barbara J. Wilson

President