Dear Colleagues:
The fall semester is nearly here, and I can feel our community’s excitement and anticipation growing with each passing day.
You have all worked incredibly hard over the past year during a challenging time, supporting our students in myriad ways while managing complicated situations of your own. We have heard loud and clear from students that they appreciated your empathy during the pandemic, including your understanding of their many competing priorities and your concern for their physical and mental wellbeing. As the semester begins, I hope all of us – administrators and faculty alike - can continue this culture of empathy as we work to bring the campus back to life.
It is also very important to remember to be kind to yourself. Our transition back to campus and an in-person academic year inevitably will present some challenges for all of us, and I encourage you to make use of the resources available on the Faculty Affairs and Human Resources websites to help make your transition as smooth as possible.
Finally, it is vital that we reinforce our commitment to welcoming all members of our community and fostering a diverse and inclusive environment in our classrooms, programs, and all areas of GW. This past year highlighted our nation’s ongoing struggle with systemic racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, and other forms of discrimination, complicated even further by feelings of frustration and isolation due to the pandemic. As we return to a traditional in-person experience, we must ensure that we continue to work together to provide space and support for each other as we fight for justice and accountability.
I look forward to what I know will be a productive and enjoyable fall semester.
Sincerely,
Christopher Alan Bracey
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs