Welcome to the Start of the New Academic Year!
A Message from Dr. Donna E. Shalala, Interim President
Welcome to the new academic year. My favorite place on earth is the beginning of the school year on a college campus. I first visited a college campus when I was 12 years old for a summer theater program. I fell in love. Other opportunities have pulled me away over the years, but I was always drawn back to the Academy.
And so we welcome our new and continuing students, faculty and staff with a promise. The New School is a place where learning and creativity are celebrated and is home to great teaching and scholarship. Students: our outstanding faculty will be your guides to the adventure that is ahead.
Our campus is also a safe place—where racism, sexism, homophobia, and xenophobia are not tolerated. This is a place where we respect each other, lower our voices to be heard, and hold ourselves and each other to high standards of decency, fairness, and compassion.
These are not easy times for higher education. We face challenges from every direction. At The New School, we must continue to work to find a way to be world class, diverse, and affordable. But if we keep our values and respect our differences, we will not only survive but thrive.
I will be with you only for a short time but I promise this year will provide both the adventure and excitement that only great universities in this country can deliver.
Welcome all.
Dr. Donna E. Shalala
Interim President
P.S. I look forward to meeting Gnarls the Narwhal. Mascots are college Presidents’ best friends—because they never talk back. You all are welcome to talk back—hopefully with wit and good intentions!
I look forward to hearing from you.