Reflecting on my tenure as Pro-Chancellor of this great university, I am struck by the gravity of The responsibility that rests on the shoulders of the likes of us who have the privilege of leadership of institutions of higher education. It is a privilege to be among a community so committed to establishing a culture of excellence, diversity, and innovation, and to be able to play a role in the shaping of minds and the moulding of the future of our students. As I gaze out at the landscape of higher education, I am struck by its intricacy and the challenges that we face, from the changing workforce needs that are proceeding at a dizzying pace to the changing expectations of our students and our stakeholders. And yet, in spite of these challenges, I am imbued with a sense of hope and optimism, for I know that our university is uniquely placed to have a beneficial influence on the world about us. We are dedicated as a community to excellence in everything we do, from the classroom to the research lab, from the campus to the community. We are dedicated to making a learning, growing, and succeeding environment, and to equipping our students with the knowledge, the skills, and the values necessary for them to succeed in an increasingly complex and interdependent world.
As I look to the future, I am thrilled to consider the ways in which our university will shape the world we live in. I am thrilled to consider the discoveries that will be made by our researchers, the innovations that will be developed by our students, and the difference that our graduates will make in their communities and their fields. And I am humbled to be a part of it, to be in a position to be able to make an impact on the future of higher education, and to be in a position to be a leader and mentor for the upcoming generation of change-makers and leaders.