Dear members of the University of Mississippi community,
The Thanksgiving holiday calls us to reflect on all that we’re grateful for – family, friends and the many blessings in our lives. This Thanksgiving, I’m especially grateful to serve this incredible community at a place that means so much to me and my family. Before we unplug to spend time with family and friends for the holiday, I’d like to share a couple of thoughts on why I am so excited about our future.
Over the last six weeks, I’ve focused my attention on getting up to speed on the affairs of the university. During this period, I’ve enjoyed conversations with many of the amazing young men and women who lead our student groups. I’ve heard and seen the tremendous work performed by many members of our faculty, staff and administration, including meeting individually with the deans of the colleges and schools, as well as our leadership at UMMC. I’ve visited many regions of the state to hear from prospective students, alumni and friends of the university. While these meetings and conversations will continue, the common thread I see woven through these interactions is a deep commitment to inspiring lives of leadership and purpose through the work of our university. Ole Miss offers amazing opportunities designed to inspire the next generation of leaders and drive Mississippi’s future.
In this holiday season, I give thanks for the culture of caring that permeates this university community. I was recently inspired by Arielle Hudson, an English education major who was selected this past Saturday for a Rhodes Scholarship and who has demonstrated a commitment to caring for others.
Arielle plans to return to Mississippi to teach after completing her studies in Oxford, England. “You have to be resilient and know you have a purpose,” Arielle said. “For me, my purpose is that I want to serve other people. That’s what pushes me to keep going.” The type of commitment that Arielle has to serving others runs deep through our university community, and it is a purpose that inspires me to lead our university to new heights.
Finally, I want to extend my deepest thanks to you – the people who make the University of Mississippi a special place to call home. Thank you for what you do each and every day for this university, our community and the state of Mississippi. My experiences over the last six weeks reaffirmed for me how this university – and this charming town of Oxford – offer a dynamic environment that brings passion and excitement to every endeavor. In this community, our students learn how to approach life and learning with zeal, preparing them to make a difference in the world. For that, we can all truly be grateful.
On behalf of my wife Emily and the entire Boyce family, I wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving. Hotty Toddy!
Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor