CONNECT Newsletter

Click here to read this week's CONNECT

CONNECT  |  Thursday, Jan. 22  |  Message from the VP

Message from the Vice President

Dear Student Affairs Colleagues,

Welcome back! I hope your first day of the spring 2026 semester was both energizing and meaningful, especially following the reflection and engagement inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Each year, as we honor Dr. King’s life, legacy, and the progress of the Civil Rights Movement, I find myself returning to his vision of a “beloved community.”

Dr. King imagined a world where freedom and dignity prevail, and where reconciliation is chosen over conflict. “Beloved community” was presented as a practical ideal and a realistic vision of an achievable society—one requiring systemic change, compassionate policies, and individual commitment to seeing humanity as one.

Interconnectedness, inclusion, and belonging are key elements to embrace, as is a sense and understanding of moral righteousness. Through “beloved community,” meaningful progress can be made on many of the world’s problems, and the transformation to a more just society becomes possible.

Nearly 58 years later, there is clearly still much work to be done to achieve the dream of “beloved community,” but that should not stop us from embracing and living these ideals. It should not stop us from dreaming, serving, and changing. So, as we begin a new semester and a new year, I encourage you to think about what is beloved to you and consider what might be beloved to others.

Our work is poised to support the development of tomorrow’s leaders, and it is my sincere hope that, as we show them the tenets of ethical leadership and community engagement—and show them compassion, care, and support—they may help move us closer to the “beloved community” Dr. King so passionately advocated for.

With appreciation,

Eric