Welcome Back Message from President LeBlanc

Dr. LeBlanc thanks university community for feedback, notes start of progress on key priorities.

January 16, 2018

Alt Text

GW President Thomas LeBlanc meets students at a brunch, in honor of his inauguration, on the Mount Vernon Campus. (William Atkins/GW Today)

To the George Washington University Community:

Welcome back to campus! I hope that you enjoyed a restful holiday, and you are reenergized for the new semester.

During my first five months here, I have had the opportunity to meet many of you—at basketball games, student pancake breakfasts at the F Street House, staff career recognition events, faculty meetings, alumni gatherings. These experiences have shown me firsthand the excitement and dedication each of you brings to GW. This was especially on display at my inauguration, when as a community we came together to celebrate our university’s history and look forward to the exciting opportunities and changes to come.

We have done a lot of talking—and I have been taking a lot of notes. At our community meetings, I heard countless terrific insights that helped shape our five key priorities, particularly regarding the student experience, alumni engagement and university culture.

Now we are focused on making progress in these areas. In December we announced the hiring of a new vice president for the Division of Development and Alumni Relations. I also charged members of my leadership team, which includes Provost Forrest Maltzman and GW’s deans and vice presidents, with addressing specific goals that advance the five key priorities.

I will provide additional details soon, including, of course, ways for you to give more feedback and be involved. Ultimately, our continued excellence, the new risks we will take and the investments that we will make, will not be possible without you.

In the meantime, I wish you a fulfilling start to the spring semester. And if we haven’t met yet, please get in touch.

Raise High!

Sincerely,
Tom LeBlanc