Dear Colleagues,
It is with great joy that I celebrate my first official day as a member of this extraordinary community of scholars, educators and public servants. I thank all of you who have already made my wife, Lynn, and me feel so welcome at the University of Washington. I look forward to getting to know many more of you soon. I also want to thank President Emerita Ana Mari Cauce and her spouse, Susan Joslyn, for their hospitality and encouragement over the last several months. They leave an impressive legacy of service and impact on the University of Washington and the broader community. I’m grateful to have their continued support as I make the transition.
I am excited to begin the work we will do together in service of our students and the people of Washington state, which I am proud to now call home. I am new to Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, and I know how important your collective experience, wisdom and partnership will be as I get to know this beautiful and innovative region. But while I am new to the UW, I bring with me a lifetime of commitment to creating access to excellent education and spurring discovery — the core values that define this great public University. I was drawn here because I care deeply about the UW’s public mission and because I believe that as a community, we have the power to elevate that mission to unimaginable heights.
Next month, we will welcome our students to a new academic year, including an incoming class who — like me — will be experiencing the UW for the first time. What they will learn as UW students in their coursework and in countless opportunities outside the classroom will transform their lives. I am grateful to all of you who have chosen to support that incredible transformation through your work. I’m equally grateful to all of you who make our region and our world healthier, more livable and more prosperous through patient care, community engagement, research and innovation.
Unquestionably, our University and universities across the nation face big challenges right now. I pledge to do everything in my power to meet those challenges head on so that our teaching, research and health-care enterprises can continue to provide world-class and life-changing service for the good of students, patients and the public who rely on this outstanding institution.
I wish you a relaxing and enjoyable summer, and I hope that if you see me on one of our campuses, you’ll stop and say hello. I know that together we will do great things in service of our shared mission.
Sincerely,
Robert J. Jones
President