Faculty, Staff and Students,

First, I want to welcome back a large portion of our students and faculty as they start their classes on Monday. I also want to acknowledge the many students and faculty who have already started classes and have been working for weeks.

It seems that here in the College of Health Sciences, we are always learning, always striving to better our world. And as we officially embark on this spring semester — the time of year when hope is eternal, by the way — I hope you are all refreshed, and ready for a new challenge.

Because this semester will, for certain, provide new hurdles. We must all continue to work, to learn, and to look out for one another to safely move forward. Still, I feel we are on a path to a new normalcy — even though we may not know exactly what that looks like. And make no mistake, that path may be long. There will be obstacles along the way. But we can be optimistic about our future.

Until then, some things remain unchanged: We will continue to transform our students’ lives for the better. We will continue to break new ground with our research. We will continue to lead by example and provide an inclusive environment for all in our College. We will continue to be mindful to respect each others’ needs for emotional and physical support. So please don’t let down your guard for a little longer and let’s keep CHS healthy and safe.

Welcome, again. It’s time to get back to business!

Have an amazing semester.

Best,

Dean Scott Lephart