A few weeks ago, I attended the Delaware State Fair. What a great way to spend the day — walking around with Gov. Matt Meyer and Lt. Gov. Kyle Evans Gay, having the best lunch ever of fried chicken and corn at the Grange, served up by none other than UD Trustee Steve Seuberth, followed by UDairy ice cream at the Moo Mobile with Michael Scuse, a longtime champion of Delaware agriculture and a member of the State Fair Board of Directors. And big shout out to Miss Delaware, Hailey Mack, a UD sophomore in civil engineering, for sharing a cup of fair-branded Sweet Corn ice cream. The best moments were like the one captured above — simply connecting, saying congratulations for ribbons received, and learning about hay, cows, and all things agriculture from an impressive group of 4-H State Teen Council officers.
I ended the day thinking about the importance of connections, and how the size and nimbleness of our state makes these moments possible. And I realized that even more important is a commitment to the continuity of connections, so that such days are not isolated but occur within a series of engagements that strengthen our campus community and build our impact in the state and around the globe.
I hope you will join me as we work together to foster our Blue Hen community, connection by connection.
Here's the latest from around the Beat:
You will start seeing renewed activity at the Wright House (official residence of the University President) as we maximize use of this historic building for the UD community. In the next weeks, we will host the New Faculty Orientation reception, launch the new cohort of faculty in the Presidential Academic Leadership Program, and convene students in the President’s Student Advisory Council (PSAC) at this location. Our intention is to build out a schedule of events across the year that provides opportunities for our campus community to enjoy this historic landmark.
I’d like to share the plan we are working toward for Hullihen Hall and the spaces within the Tower at STAR over the coming months. Hullihen Hall will serve as a central hub, hosting the President’s Office, Office of the Executive Vice President for Facilities and Administration, Office of General Counsel (including Board Secretary), Office of Communications and Marketing, Student Life, Graduate College, Undergraduate Education and Honors College, and the Provost's Office, including collaboration space for faculty affairs, space and offices for the Faculty Senate and AAUP, the Center for Teaching and Learning, and UD Online. The Office of Development and Alumni Relations and the Investments Office will move to the 9th and 10th floors of the Tower at STAR and the adjacent space at 550 S. College, collocating with Human Resources, Budget, Finance, Research, Internal Audit, and Government Relations.
In the most recent Prez Beat communication, I told you about our intention to hold open Zoom-Ins with the campus community. These Zoom-Ins with me and Interim Provost Bill Farquhar and other university leaders will take place from 4-5 p.m. on Aug. 18, Sept. 22, Oct. 27, Nov. 17 and Dec. 15. Zoom information will be posted on the President's Office website.
I want to give a shout out to a record number of our newest Blue Hens who will be World Scholars this coming year. Students at the Auckland, New Zealand, site departed in mid-July; those headed to Rome, Italy, and Madrid, Spain, will travel later this month, and those going to Athens, Greece, and Newcastle, England, will begin in September. This is such a unique UD program, and we look forward to celebrating and honoring its 10th anniversary this year.
I will conclude with a note of gratitude to Dean Lou Rossi, who will be ending his term as vice provost and dean of the Graduate College on Aug. 31. I know from experience the passion and effort it takes to serve as Graduate Dean, and to serve as inaugural dean only magnifies this achievement. I greatly appreciate Lou’s tireless efforts to support our graduate and professional students, launching a unit that remains vital to the growth and support of graduate and professional education at UD. Thank you, Lou!

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