Dear Tulane Community:
The beginning of the academic year is a time of profound excitement and expectation. For me, it is also a moment to reflect with gratitude on the months of hard work and planning that preceded the start of the new semester – from the beautification of campus, to the renewing and refurbishing of our buildings, to helping our newest students get oriented to campus, to preparing syllabi and coursework. As we approach Labor Day weekend, please join me in recognizing and celebrating our staff and faculty who make these and numerous other vital contributions to our university.
Every single person who works here at Tulane plays a critical role in our collective success and ascendant trajectory. The Wave is definitely on a roll, and we owe it all to the most dedicated team in all of higher education.
On Oct. 13, we will have the opportunity to recognize and thank our staff who have reached milestone anniversaries, including those who have served at Tulane anywhere from five to 40 years! This will be our first staff recognition event since the pandemic and a moment in which all campuses join together to recognize not only landmark anniversaries but to celebrate the accomplishments of last year’s President’s Staff Excellence Award recipients, the Departmental and Team Excellence Award recipients and the Spirit of Tulane Award winners. I look forward to expressing my gratitude in person for the hard work and dedication of our staff.
In November, we will honor and celebrate Tulane’s essential employees – those who remain on campus to manage and respond to emergencies and other high-risk scenarios. We could not function without this incredible group of employees from across the entire university. Their service includes everything from securing our campuses to ensuring the health and safety of our community and helping Tulane thrive through Hurricane Ida, COVID-19 and other challenges.
We learned this week that Tulane has been recognized on Forbes’ annual list of America’s Best Employers by State. Tulane was listed as Louisiana’s #1 employer in education and the state’s #2 employer overall. This ranking is based on anonymous surveys of employees who were asked to consider the working environment, salary, potential for growth and diversity of their companies. To be counted among the best by the best is truly an honor.
And we are ensuring the continued growth and development of Team Tulane through university-wide initiatives like the Leadership Institute, which identifies and nurtures future university leaders while enhancing the skills, insight, and vision of current ones.
Once again, my many thanks for all that you do. Working beside you each day to move Tulane forward is truly an honor. I wish everyone a safe, happy and restful Labor Day. You certainly deserve it.
