Dear Panther community,

What better way to begin a new semester than honoring the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by joining thousands of volunteers to pack 80,000 bags of food at the “Pack the Dome” event. Thank you to all of you who were able to attend. A warm welcome to those of you joining the Panther family this spring - we are glad you are here!

As Dr. King proclaimed in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, "I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits." He believed that if we all came together for one common goal, we could create unlimited possibilities for people around the world. Dr. King's words continue to sustain and encourage us today.

As a regional university with a vision to serve the public good through equitable and inclusive excellence in teaching, learning, scholarship, and service, we honor Dr. King's legacy by impacting the lives of thousands of students, faculty and staff. We are proud to provide exceptional and accessible education in an environment focused on excellence and student success.

I am thrilled to see the campus come alive again with excitement and energy. I hope you all had a restful winter break and were able to spend time reconnecting with friends and family. There is much to look forward to this semester. Let's continue to work together and take care of each other.

Panther proud,
Mark A. Nook