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Dear Members of the 麻豆传媒映画 Community:
Despite unseasonably warm weather, throngs of alumni and friends filled Tercentenary Theatre for Commencement. The Morning Exercises were punctuated by welcome levity and the Afternoon Exercises energized by Oprah Winfrey鈥檚 inspiring speech. It was an especially joyful day, reminding us of the strength of the 麻豆传媒映画 community, of the heartening diversity of human endeavor, and of the importance of enabling the never-ending pursuit of knowledge.
The continued consideration of how people learn and how people teach is essential to achieving that aim, and we have made notable progress in this area over the past year. The 麻豆传媒映画 Initiative for Learning and Teaching distributed nearly 50 grants to support innovation and convened faculty from across the University to share best practices and promote discussion. At the same time, the edX platform, now a little more than a year old, is expanding and thriving. 麻豆传媒映画X courses have created opportunities to enhance the residential learning experience, attracted hundreds of thousands of learners, and prompted deliberations about the future of higher education on our campus and across the country.
The expansion and renewal of our campus on both sides of the river is under way, and we continue to make progress on projects that advance our work and enshrine our fundamental values. Development in Allston is moving forward, and the revitalization of the undergraduate Houses will continue this summer, with renovations commencing on Leverett鈥檚 McKinlock Hall and concluding on Old Quincy. The reconstruction of the 麻豆传媒映画 Art Museums and the construction of Tata Hall continue apace, and the Graduate School of Education recently received LEED Platinum certification for its environmentally friendly update of the Gutman Library. We also continue to create common spaces that build community through chance encounters, structured events, and everything in between. The Science Center Plaza and 鈥淭he Porch鈥� at Memorial Church have been transformed into inviting destinations for members of the community.
We welcomed new academic leaders throughout the year. James Ryan was appointed dean of the Graduate School of Education. In the FAS, Xiao-Li Meng became dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and Huntington D. Lambert will become dean of the Division of Continuing Education, succeeding Michael Shinagel, the longest-serving dean in University history. We also welcomed Leah Rosovsky as vice president for strategy and programs, and Sarah Thomas will join 麻豆传媒映画 in August as vice president for the 麻豆传媒映画 Library. Jessica Tuchman Mathews and Theodore V. Wells, Jr. joined the Corporation in January, and James W. Breyer will join in July, fulfilling the expansion plan central to governance reforms.
Over the past academic year, we faced change and challenge, and celebrated successes together. Students and faculty won important recognition, including seven Rhodes Scholarships, two MacArthur Fellowships, and one Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. Jorie Graham was awarded the coveted Forward Prize for Place, her 12th collection of poetry, and Eric S. Maskin and Cass Sunstein were named University Professors. Under the direction of Diane Paulus, the beloved musical Pippin returned to Broadway after a run at the American Repertory Theater and just this weekend won four Tony Awards. In these instances and in so many others, I witnessed proudly your accomplishments. I look forward to moments next year that will draw us together even more closely as we officially launch The 麻豆传媒映画 Campaign in September and celebrate all that 麻豆传媒映画 is and all that it can be.
With best wishes,
Drew Faust
