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Welcome, or perhaps welcome back, to The University of Akron! Today we begin a new academic year guaranteed to be significantly different from the rest.
In just five weeks Dr. Gary L. Miller will take office as the University’s 18th president. His selection was announced by the Board of Trustees on Aug. 14. It was very gratifying to see more than 500 members of our campus community queue up the next day in the Jean Hower Taber Student Union ballroom to personally welcome Dr. Miller and his wife and partner, Georgia Nix Miller.
Let us also extend a similarly warm welcome to the approximately 30 new faculty members who are joining our ranks this academic year. When you encounter these new colleagues please take the time to introduce yourself, share some of your knowledge and insights, and help them to feel at home here in Akron.
Our year-long sesquicentennial celebration will officially begin in May 2020, but you can look forward to some activities and features appearing throughout this academic year. For example, I encourage everyone to go online to visit the and see some of the creative work underway.
On October 1 the University presidency will transfer to Dr. Miller. He has generously asked me to stay on for a few months to assist him as special assistant to the president for strategy and transition. I look forward with excitement and optimism to this new era for our University.
However, we still have the important work of getting our students off to a good start this semester. I will continue my duties as interim president from now until September 30. If you have concerns or issues, suggestions or ideas, please bring them to me and I will do my best to move them forward.
Once again, welcome and best wishes for a productive and happy fall semester!
Sincerely,
Dr. John C. Green
Interim President
The University of Akron