November 22, 2022
Dear Colleagues,
I’m writing to wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. I am thankful for so many things this year, but particularly thankful to you for all you are doing for our students in these continuingly challenging times. They are why we are here, and I know they are served well by all our faculty and staff!
I would also like to acknowledge and honor the Indigenous communities native to this region and recognize that IU South Bend was built on Indigenous homelands and resources. We recognize the Potawatomi, Peoria, Myaamia, Kickapoo, Kaskaskia, Mascouten and Meskwaki people as past, present, and future caretakers of this land. Over the past year we have been working to strengthen our relationship with the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi, especially around increasing access to higher education opportunities at IU South Bend for tribal citizens. I am excited to be hosting a delegation from the Pokagon Band on campus in a few weeks in honor of this partnership.
In addition to wishing you a happy holiday, below are a few things to look forward to or celebrate as we finish out the calendar year.
Major Campus Initiatives
As you all know, there is a LOT going on around campus. In fact, there is so much going on it can be hard to keep up with it all. As a result, we have created a new Major Campus Initiatives webpage that lists some of the larger scale efforts happening on campus so you can stay up to date. Thanks to everyone who is involved in these initiatives – our collective wisdom will guide us to a brighter future for IU South Bend.
Winter Wonderland Holiday Celebration
If you haven’t done so already, don’t forget to RSVP for the 2022 Faculty and Staff Holiday Party, which is our annual employee recognition event. This year’s celebration will be held on Thursday, December 8 from 5:30-8:00pm in the University Grill. It is always a festive time and an opportunity for me to acknowledge all the dedication you show in helping IU South Bend meet its mission every single day.
Thanks again for you and all you do to support our campus community and region. I hope you find ways this week to relax and enjoy time with family and friends.