Resilience, creativity define the Hoosier spirit
As I look toward the end of the semester and reflect upon the past year – my first as provost of Indiana University Bloomington – I am deeply inspired by your strength and ability to find creative solutions for the challenges that inevitably arise in work and in life. I have seen, in action, the many ways we work together to enhance the undergraduate and graduate student experience, push the boundaries of research, and make Indiana a better place to live and work.
In just one small example, last week, hundreds of campus and community members gathered outside the Indiana Memorial Union for Light Up the Night — a campus tradition signaling the symbolic start of the holiday season. During the festive holiday market, which includes performers and even a temporary ice-skating rink, two massive (80- and 60-foot) “candles” of twinkly lights are ceremonially flipped on.
About an hour before the planned lighting, a large stretch of the IU campus unexpectedly lost power. Fortunately, Hoosiers are full of resilience and creativity.
While campus staff worked diligently to restore power and support the campus, the revelers, undaunted, continued the merriment, skating around in the near dark, the space illuminated by dozens of handheld electric candles.
This ability to creatively shift course when necessary is a great example of the spirit that permeates our campus community.
I am incredibly grateful for the collaborative work among the 25 IUB 2030 strategic planning working groups, and for the input from hundreds more who are sharing ideas for the campus. The actionable innovations coming into focus through this effort arise from all areas at IU, uniting diverging backgrounds and experiences, toward areas of strength and opportunity for our future.
After the winter break, we will share key recommendations from the working groups as the campus shifts into “phase two” of the IUB 2030 process, when the planning committees will hone recommendations from working groups into clear goals that will position us for leadership and success over the next seven years.
Later this month, we will also begin recruitment for the first new faculty as part of our Faculty 100 hiring initiative, one of many ways we continue to support faculty growth at IU. Just yesterday, we shared the news that Kimberly L. Geeslin has been named vice provost for faculty and academic affairs, and I look forward to her innovation and leadership to improve the experience and development of our faculty and academic appointees.
Tomorrow, we will honor the six exemplary employees who won 2022 Staff Merit Awards, along with celebrating all the contributions of our outstanding staff.
As we head toward finals and celebrate our winter commencement together next week, I encourage us all to recognize the true creativity and resilience we demonstrate daily to make our work across campus possible and the future for us all brighter. We have incredible opportunities ahead.
Whatever you do over the break, I hope you find rest and joy among friends and loved ones. We are grateful you are at IU, and our Hoosier spirit is definitely strong.
