President’s speeches, letters, and articles
Subject: Welcome to the fall semester
August 26, 2022
Dear students, faculty, and staff,
At Reed, we begin each fall semester with a sense of possibility, one buoyed by our new community members—students, faculty, and staff who have joined us—and by our excitement to engage with colleagues we have seen less frequently over the summer.
As I think about the year ahead, I am determined to carry forward our collective work to become a more inclusive community, beginning with our continuing anti-racism plans and actions on multiple fronts. This work was reignited by community conversations last spring, and we plan to continue such gatherings. Our discussions and interactions will benefit greatly from the leadership of Reed’s new Vice President and Dean for Institutional Diversity, Dr. Phyllis Esposito.
Diversity on college campuses will be an especially prominent issue in the national discourse this coming semester, with the Supreme Court set to hear two cases challenging the consideration of race in admissions. Over the summer, Reed agreed to join an amicus brief with a number of other liberal arts colleges that offers our support of race-conscious admissions practices.
I am excited to move forward with our new strategic plan, which offers recommendations for growth and change that build on the college’s established educational excellence and the strengths of our curriculum. The plan includes recommendations in five areas along with two contextual framings. One recognizes our need for continued fiscal care as we balance our aspirations with a desire to welcome students from many backgrounds. The second emphasizes the college's long record of achievement in research and discovery—and urges us to further develop these programs throughout the curriculum to make them more widely available. The plan is focused as well on making continued progress in our students’ success, both at and beyond their time on campus. I encourage you to read the plan on Reed’s website.
We know that feeling challenged can be a sign of growth. As you begin the academic year, I hope you will find ways to foster those things that make your hearts sing and your imaginations soar, and that you will forge connections with your classmates, colleagues, professors, and peers. Our community is strengthened when we connect through our experiences and lift one another.
I am greatly looking forward to all this year will bring.
Audrey
Audrey Bilger
President