February 17, 2011
Dear Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni/ae, and Friends,
It is with careful consideration that I announced yesterday to the Board of Trustees, the President’s Cabinet, the Faculty Senate, and the Student Body, that the time has come to begin my transition from the position of President of Dillard University. I will be working very closely with the Board of Trustees on a transition plan that will culminate in Dillard's appointment of a new president.
It has been challenging and rewarding to serve “Fair Dillard” over the past six years. It was an honor to play a role in rebuilding Dillard, following its devastation at the hands of Hurricane Katrina. Because of your faith in Dillard's rich legacy, together, we have not only preserved the heritage of this stellar institution, but brought it to new heights, positioning Dillard for greater achievements in the 21st century.
In the months ahead, I will be working tirelessly to sustain and build upon our many successes, and to identify new opportunities to secure Dillard's future. We will continue to focus heavily on fundraising to enable us to rebuild Dillard’s entire campus. The cost thus far is nearly $400 million.
As I begin my transition process, I reflect upon the lessons I have learned from many years of experience in universities around the country. One very important lesson is that a university is only as great as the faculty it attracts to teach and conduct research, and the students who matriculate as learners in the educational enterprise. It is this delicate and complex relationship, between faculty and learners, which promotes learning engagement and outcomes in disciplines that are considered to be essential to the future development of a society.
Dillard University is noted for its tradition of attracting, developing, and retaining the highest level of faculty in their academic disciplines to serve as stewards supporting the portal of learning in areas that represent the university’s mission. The proper combination of superior faculty expertise and student aspirations to master their disciplines makes a university great. This is precisely the combination that creates distinctive universities.
I became more astutely aware of the significance of the relationship of teachers/scholars/researchers and students/ learners in a university environment when I chose to announce my forthcoming transition out of Dillard University. It did not matter that I indicated to faculty and student groups in separate meetings that the transition would occur several months into the summer, or when the Board succeeds in selecting a successor. What mattered at each meeting was that we were bonded as president-to-students and as president-to-faculty. Yes, we wept together. Presidents have permission to be human. It took me a second of containing my emotions before deciding that presidents have emotional experiences just as faculty and students have. At 8:00 a.m. this morning, I had the opportunity to meet with staff representatives. Their sentiments were the same as those expressed by faculty and students.
The challenges ahead of us rest in how to convert our continuing emotional commitment to projects that will serve as a part of the permanent future of Dillard. I invite faculty, staff and students to join me in identifying projects of engagement and service. Last night, some students and I decided to plan a weekend to beautify the campus. We will organize a committee and announce a call for volunteers.
I am aware of the Greenhouse, where no follow-up plans have been announced for action. With all the expertise we have among faculty and staff in this area, we can do something together. That is one idea, and I am sure there are others, such as enhancing the balconies in our beautiful Professional Schools and Sciences Building.
Because we have only the Webpage and telephonic channels of communication among alumni/ae, I wish to address them especially. To alumni/ae around the country, you will receive some of the vigor and vitality in organizing for a purpose of advantaging Dillard.
There are many actions that must be initiated in your alumni/ae chapters. Dillard needs your support. Please submit creative ideas for alumni engagement to Ms. Adrian Guy Anderson, Executive Director of Alumni Relations, at (504) 816-4325 or via email at aguy@dillard.edu
To celebrate my departure, let us join forces in working to promote Dillard’s future. Please submit your ideas early to enable us to determine if there is a project that energizes national alumni/ae efforts and appreciation. I submit one idea in these economic crises for our students. Perhaps we can organize competitive fund-raising among chapters for scholarships. To all of you, students, faculty, staff and alumni/ae, I am deeply grateful for your response to affirm your support.
We have worked very hard to rebuild, almost to a level of 100%, Dillard’s campus. Add to that our two new Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Certified buildings, and, oddly, this campus has received an increase of 120% growth in construction under this administration. Already this sets a precedent in education. Today, every building is a transformed state-of-the-art building.
I hope you understand that I gave my best to all of you. You may expect an exit document from me before commencement.
We have uploaded a photo gallery to enable you to appreciate our journey.
Most sincerely,
Dr. Marvalene Hughes
President Hughes Photo Gallery
Please enjoy this photo gallery depicting President Hughes' journey at Dillard University over the past six years.
http://www.dillard.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=990:president-hughess-photo-gallery&catid=147&Itemid=964
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