Greetings to the Highlander Family!

Greetings! I am writing to formally introduce myself and express excitement for becoming a member of the Radford community and the Highlander family. It is an immense privilege to be selected as Radford University's seventh president and officially begin my tenure today, July 1, 2016. During the selection process, I had the opportunity to tour our beautiful campus and meet with so many dedicated members of the campus community. I especially enjoyed meeting many of you in January 2016 and over the course of the past few months as I visited the campus on numerous occasions. Through such interactions, it became abundantly clear to me that Radford University is an amazing place – a place that I am honored to call home!

Following Radford's founding in 1910, our students have had the opportunity to learn from some of the best faculty in their respective fields. That tradition stands true today as Radford professors provide students with limitless opportunities to grow and flourish into professionals who make great discoveries and build a stronger foundation for our society. Indeed, I have heard countless stories about students achieving so much more than they thought possible in the classroom, in the research laboratory and in service to the communities in which we live, learn and work. That level of success is only possible due to the outstanding faculty and hardworking staff. Without question, Radford University is where students find their academic passion and set a course for their professional lives.

Throughout my academic and professional journey, I have been mentored by outstanding leaders who taught me many lessons. These individuals taught me the importance and vital role that a public university plays in our society by producing individuals who will lead with an unwavering commitment to public service. At Radford University, we will continue our mission of providing the best education and overall experience for our students. Please know that your core values are my core values. Our values, such as academic excellence, diversity, intellectual and artistic curiosity and creativity, to name a few, are the reason you became actively involved at Radford University. Our values, coupled with a strong desire to engage with our communities in order to make a difference, are the reason students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends are deeply committed to Radford!

I sincerely look forward to engaging with the entire campus community. Over the course of the coming months, I will continue to meet with members of the Highlander family to learn more about Radford University and our collective aspirations for the future. The dates, times and locations of various on-campus forums for students, faculty and staff will be announced very soon. I encourage you to join me in these important discussions about key initiatives to move Radford University forward with an unwavering commitment to excellence, accountability, transparency and student-centeredness.

As I begin my tenure as your president, I am confident that our future is full of immense potential and infinite possibilities that can only be achieved by working together as one Highlander family. Please join me in building upon Radford University's outstanding accomplishments and limitless enthusiasm for our bold and promising future as we transform Radford University into an innovative, premier university in the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond, with a keen focus on teaching, research and service.

With Highlander Pride,