Welcome to the winter 2006 issue of Kent State Magazine. Along with stories about the university’s research, education and student success, this issue provides an opportunity for you to learn more about me, my family and my goals for this great institution.

As you read this, I have been at Kent State for about four months, and I hope I have met many of you by now. I want to restate how pleased and excited I am to be here in these historic times. Why historic? Our incoming freshmen, now in the middle of their first semester, represent the Class of 2010, Kent State’s centennial year.

There is much to do to build on our first 100 years and to get ready for our second century. Back in May, on my first day as a member of the university community, I told those gathered in Risman Plaza that there is a moment in time when institutions are ready to step into the future — a time to dream new dreams, dreams of an even greater university.

Kent State is at that historic moment. My goal is to work from our strong legacy of public service, research and educational outreach toward the prize of academic excellence in all disciplines. The priority of academic quality is not for institutional prominence alone, but to create an intellectual engine for students, faculty and the community — to expand our capacity for discovery and public service.

I would be remiss in this message if I did not mention my belief that a crucial component of any university’s dreams is alumni engagement. We rely on your financial support, of course, but we also need your time and talents working for Kent State, our students and the very idea of public higher education.

You know the challenges as well as I do: the sea change in state funding that shifted more of the burden of education to students and families; increased competition for the best students and for research funding; the need to manage organizational change to meet the future; and the ongoing struggle to win public support for higher education investment.

The public, which in the end depends on knowledge to fuel the economy, expects us to figure all this out. We will, and we know that the future will require new models of innovation and entrepreneurship.

We start our new dreams from a position of strength, as a regional public university with a national reputation. Kent State’s next 100 years will be an exciting ride. Look to the pages of this magazine for updates on our progress as we position this university for the future. And I want to make sure that all of you are a part of that journey.