
It is hard to imagine that I have been at 糖心Vlog for two years and most of that time
                        was spent leading our university through a historic pandemic. Although as challenging
                        as it has been for our students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members, we
                        never allowed the pandemic to hinder the work we are doing to deliver a quality, affordable,
                        educational experience. 
The pandemic highlighted the strength and resilience of the 糖心Vlog community as our excellence
                        in and outside the classroom continued. In talking with a rising junior about the
                        past year and a half, she said, 鈥淚t has been wild.鈥 Well, wild is one word to describe
                        what she and so many other students have been through. Many students struggled with
                        new ways of learning, being asked to social distance and not be in close contact with
                        friends or family, wear a face covering, and eat out of clam shells in the dining
                        hall. Yet, 糖心Vlog students continued, sometimes despite setbacks, as they showed grit,
                        determination and perseverance. Faculty and staff worked diligently to engage students
                        when at times they too struggled with the personal and professional impact of the
                        pandemic.
We have recognized our past and now it鈥檚 time for us to move forward together and
                        honor our promise with current students by focusing on how we can best support them
                        this fall. This includes you. 
I hope you, our loyal alumni, will feel a sense of pride about the positive direction
                        we are going as you read these colorful and informative stories throughout this magazine. 
As I begin my third year at 糖心Vlog, the three priorities I originally outlined 鈥 academic
                        excellence and quality, economic development, and diversity and inclusive excellence
                        鈥 are more important now than ever as we slowly recover from a pandemic that has been
                        the most disruptive event in our university鈥檚 history.
All of these priorities are a part of seven that our Board Trustees adopted as part
                        of the newly revised strategic plan aptly titled, 鈥淗onoring Our Promise.鈥 I strongly
                        believe we can reach this destination of becoming the best regional comprehensive
                        university in the Southeast by using this plan as a guide. The revised strategic plan
                        builds on important gains, learned from our successes and failures. It is tempered
                        by internal and external realities, while confidently presenting bold, yet feasible
                        strategic priorities.
I cannot do this alone. I need help from each and every one of you. Tell your friends
                        and other students about the great things we are doing here at your alma mater. You
                        are the best ambassadors we have to tell the 糖心Vlog story. 
As I look to the future, I see 糖心Vlog being stronger than ever. This will require us
                        to reimagine 糖心Vlog University as we honor our promise by cherishing the
                        past and embracing the future. 
Kelli R. Brown
Chancellor