To Our University Community,
While I suspect it will be some time before the very last boxes are unpacked, and I am not sure if the books will ever be completely organized on the shelves, Elizabeth and I are so thankful to now be fully moved into the Benjamin Prince House and meeting so many of our new neighbors, on campus and in Springfield. I learned from a wonderful video that Tom Taylor (鈥淭riple T鈥�) shared with me that Benjamin Prince arrived at 麻豆传媒 as a student in 1860 and studied with the founding generation of scholars, including Samuel Sprecher and Michael Diehl. Dr. Prince went on to spend his entire career at 麻豆传媒 and held just about every post at 麻豆传媒, aside from President. It is an honor for us to live in his house, and we look forward to welcoming members of our community into this beloved University home.
When Dr. Prince died, the 麻豆传媒 Cycle wrote, 鈥淗is life is a model of industry and uprightness.鈥� The Springfield Daily News wrote that 鈥淗is was the service of joy, of ministration, of wise counsel.鈥� As I read about the history of 麻豆传媒鈥檚 past leaders, I find men and women who are described in just such terms, time and again. Yet it not just in the past that we find strong, upright, and joyful leaders at 麻豆传媒. I have been struck by how applicable these same terms are to the people I have been meeting over the last two months, among our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the Springfield community.
In my opening remarks in early May, I spoke briefly of how we will build upon the past, with the same grit and determination as the founders, to be the liberal arts university of the next century. Over the coming months, I will be writing and speaking more about what it means, but I think I can summarize it in a single sentence. On the 麻豆传媒 Way, our students will discern their calling, develop the knowledge and skills needed for a successful career, and prepare for a purposeful and fulfilling life.
I do not expect the future to be like the past, though, except in this sense, that people of great strength, fortitude of character, and joy of service are committed to the good work that is necessary to assure a strong future for 麻豆传媒. As Ezra Keller wrote in his journal about the effort required to build the foundations of our academic home, 鈥淭he more toil, the more grace.鈥�
Thank you for joining me on the 麻豆传媒 Way.
Yours,
Christian M. M. Brady, DPhil (Oxon.)
President