Thanksgiving seemed to come quickly this year. There has been so much happening over the first two and a half months of the semester, and all of us have been so busy that I’m amazed to find we’ve already hit the Thanksgiving break.

Before we go, I wanted to pause and share with you just a few things I’m grateful for this Thanksgiving, starting with our wonderful Suffolk community. We are a strong community, filled with people who are committed to our important mission. Our faculty and staff work tirelessly to help ensure that our students have a transformative educational experience while they are here and ultimately have a platform from which to build their professional, personal, and community success. For that I am grateful.

And as I thought about that a bit, I was particularly struck by how grateful I am for the way in which you inspire and renew my sense of optimism daily. These have been challenging times. As a nation, we have experienced deep political divisions. And we have seen numerous tragedies nationally and around the world since the academic year began. Some of them, including natural disasters, have hit close to home, impacting family members and hometowns.

But despite those difficult events and challenges, I feel optimistic. That is because every day I see and talk with students who are deeply engaged in their learning and excited about their futures. And I see faculty and staff who support them. I hear from students who are eager to contribute not only to their personal success but also to the success of their communities, locally and around the world. Our students, like our alumni across the globe, are genuinely seeking answers to challenges in the world, and they are looking to make a positive difference.

For me, that provides a renewable stream of optimism and a bottomless cornucopia of hope.

As I spend time with my family this Thanksgiving, I will include Suffolk students on my list of things for which I am grateful because of all they will go on to do for the world. And I will include the entire Suffolk community for all that you do for this University.

I am wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving, full of family, friends, joy, hope, and optimism. And I hope you enjoy a much deserved holiday break.

marisasig

Marisa J. Kelly
Acting President