November 11, 2025
Dear Tulane Community,
Anticipation is building as we deck the campus in olive and blue for Wave Weekend ’25. By uniting Homecoming, Reunions and Family Weekend in one unforgettable celebration, we maximize the opportunities for meaningful togetherness.
The schedule is packed with fascinating faculty lectures, the Tipping Point scholarship fundraiser concert, reunion festivities, the Homecoming football game and more. I am especially looking forward to hosting two special events with two extraordinary Tulanians.
On Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. in Dixon Hall, I’ll sit down with best-selling author Walter Isaacson, the Leonard A. Lauder Professor of History and American Values at Tulane. We’ll be discussing his latest book, The Greatest Sentence Ever Written, which comes out next week. It explores the complex backstory and present-day implications of the second sentence of the Declaration of Independence, which enshrines the rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
As we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, The Greatest Sentence Ever Written invites us to consider the balance between individual rights and the common good: an equilibrium that lies at the core of our democracy. Above all, it invites us to engage with each other through civil discourse and informed dialogue as we strive toward an America that is truly a land of opportunity for all.
On Friday morning, I’ll return to Dixon Hall at 10:30 a.m. for a special Presidential Speaker Series event featuring former Green Wave and NFL star Matt Forté. Matt came to Tulane as a football recruit from Slidell, Louisiana, following in the footsteps of his father Gene, a Green Wave defensive tackle and team captain in the 1970s. Matt’s record-setting Tulane career as a star running back led to a storied 10-year NFL career with the Chicago Bears and New York Jets, including two Pro Bowl selections and a new record for receptions by a running back in a single season.
But the stellar stats only tell part of the story. Matt tells the rest in his new book, Stay in the Game: Making the Most of Every Season. In it, he shares how his Tulane journey helped him build a meaningful and purpose-driven life both on and off the field – from overcoming injury and the “Katrina season,” to returning to campus after his first NFL season to complete his bachelor’s degree in finance.
Wave Weekend is a time to find joy in community and draw inspiration from fellow Tulanians like Matt and Walter who embody Tulane’s unique spirit, determination and character. In light of the headwinds we face in today’s world, there’s no better moment to reconnect with old friends, learn more about the life-changing research we’re producing across our campuses, and celebrate our success as we educate the next generation of leaders. (Watch your inbox for the Fall Tulanian for more inspiring stories.)
As we gather to learn, groove, eat, and cheer on the Green Wave, we are energized by the power of human connection. We’ll carry this with us long after Wave Weekend ’25 is over, and we’ll recharge our energy with two simple words:
ROLL WAVE!
