Jan. 3, 2023

Dear UD Community,

Happy New Year! As we begin 2023 at the University of Delaware, my wife, Eleni, and I hope that you are healthy, happy and eager to see what exciting opportunities await our community in the coming year.

I am incredibly proud of all the ways you help fulfill the University’s mission every day. I invite you to enjoy this video and this UDaily story featuring highlights of 2022. I hope these shared UD experiences inspire you to imagine the endless possibilities of the new year ahead.

This is a time that offers us a fresh start, opening broad horizons for discovery and new perspectives. After a busy fall semester and the holidays, we have a moment to reflect and think about the next steps we will all take on our individual and collective journeys. Where will we go this year? Whom will we meet? What experiences will spark our curiosity, challenge our beliefs and engage our creativity?

Seizing an adventurous mindset is all the more meaningful this year because UD will celebrate the 100^th anniversary of its pioneering study-abroad program, the first in the United States. With that voyage to France in 1923, UD ushered in a new era of global learning and citizenship to promote peace, understanding and cooperation, sharing a bold idea that has become the model for international education at thousands of institutions around the world.

Now, one hundred years later, this intrepid Blue Hen spirit continues to evolve as we push even more boundaries together … growing the talent and diversity across our students, faculty and staff; reimagining our beautiful campus for today and for a sustainable future; and together innovating solutions to address global challenges ranging from climate change and disaster mitigation to health and renewable energy.

As we begin this year, I encourage you to think big and envision all the ways you can make your own impact on the world. I am thrilled to join you on this journey of exploration at the University of Delaware.

Eleni and I wish your 2023 be filled with wonder, adventure, health and enlightenment for you and your loved ones.

Sincerely,

Dennis Assanis President