President Cantwell Welcomes Aggies to 2023-24 Academic Year
President Elizabeth Cantwell welcomes students to the 2023-24 academic year in this video message.
Editor’s note: Utah State University President Elizabeth Cantwell welcomed students, faculty and staff to the fall 2023 semester with these written and video messages.
Dear USU Students, Faculty, and Staff,
It is with immense joy and a deep sense of honor that I welcome you all to Utah State University as its newly appointed president. As we prepare to embark on this journey together, I am filled with excitement for the possibilities that lie ahead. Like many of you, I have only been here a few weeks, and you may see me wandering around trying to figure out where I am going. Please don’t hesitate to ask if you can help me and introduce yourself! Likewise, I am keenly interested in how I can help you. You can reach out with suggestions or comments through my website.
Utah State University has a legacy of academic access and excellence, research impact and innovation, and community engagement — and we will continue to uphold and elevate this legacy. As we gather our collective strength to begin this new chapter, I am reminded of the power of unity and the transformative impact we can create together.
For our returning faculty, your dedication and hard work have been instrumental in creating an environment that fosters learning and supports our students in their pursuit of knowledge. Your passion for education is inspiring, and I am grateful for the contributions you make each day. Your expertise and commitment are the pillars upon which our university's value stands, and I am excited to collaborate with you to further our academic pursuits.
For our hardworking staff, your efforts behind the scenes do not go unnoticed. Your contributions ensure that our campus functions seamlessly and that our students have access to the resources they need to thrive. I am grateful for your unwavering support and look forward to working closely with you.
To our students, both returning and new, I extend a heartfelt welcome. You are at the heart of everything we do. Your curiosity, aspirations, and determination drive the spirit of this university, and I encourage you to take full advantage of the opportunities that await you here. USU is a place of endless possibilities, where you can explore your passions, challenge your boundaries, and develop skills that will serve you well throughout your life.
As we enter this academic year, I am committed to fostering an environment of open dialogue, inclusivity, and collaboration. Together, we will tackle challenges head on and celebrate our successes as one community. I am eager to engage with each of you, to learn from your experiences, and to work together to shape the future of Utah State University.
At USU, our community and our collective pride thrive on inclusion — we are a place where it is important that everyone finds their way to belong. Already, as I start my own journey here, I feel this spirit, and I am eager to share it with you, extending to you an invitation to share it with others. I encourage you to look at our Aggies Think, Care, Act website for thoughts on how to share a sense of belonging with others. We aren't merely a university; we are the Aggie Family — a gathering of students, faculty, staff, and community that nurtures, empathizes, and champions an environment of respect.
As your year ramps up, amid all your outward attention on your academic work, your activities, USU athletics, and the world around you, I encourage you to acknowledge the complexity of learning to be a thriving human, and I strongly underscore the importance of self-care. Discover the array of resources, support programs, and recreational pursuits that we offer at USU. Take a moment to acquaint yourself with the Aggie Wellness website for students or the Be Well program for employees to learn about the dimensions of wellness, along with the avenues through which USU and our community can assist you.
Finally, I encourage all of you to approach the year with a sense of purpose, a hunger for knowledge, and a commitment to excellence.
Go Aggies!
Elizabeth Cantwell
President
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