The Conclusion of the Academic Year

May 9, 2022

Dear Members of the Brandeis Community,

As the academic year comes to a close with the conclusion of classes and the beginning of finals, I write to thank and congratulate the community on the successful completion of the year. This season offers us the opportunity to reflect on the many achievements Brandeis’ faculty, students, and staff have attained throughout the course of the academic year, and I take great pride in leading a university whose community is characterized by its commitment to rigorous intellectual inquiry and the pursuit of truth and justice.

While this year saw the resumption of the engaging, in-person experiences that make Brandeis so vibrant, many of our shared circumstances were marked by the pandemic-era constraints that continue to influence our day-to-day lives. I want to recognize the efforts of all those across our campus who have worked diligently to ensure that our entire community could continue its pursuit of our teaching and research mission in a safe environment.

When we last gathered to celebrate Commencement in 2019, few of us could have predicted what lay ahead. Thanks to the hard work and planning of university staff, our Commencement exercises later this month will mark a joyous return to tradition for our graduates and their families. I invite you to join me in congratulating our departing graduates for all they have accomplished during their time as students – particularly in light of the unprecedented challenges they have faced and overcome.

I am optimistic that the coming months will bring our university closer to a return to normalcy, and I look forward to welcoming many of you back to campus in the fall. In the meantime, I hope that you find time for rest and renewal during the summer months.

Sincerely,

Ron