There is no more exciting time to be the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts than right now.
In June, I packed up my life in Australia to move back to Duluth to work with the amazing group of students, staff, and faculty in our college. Every single day, I am in awe of the innovative, creative, and vital work that folks are doing here--and this work has direct and tangible effects on the wider world.
One of the real hallmarks of the college is its commitment to sustainability, and this is such an important time to be focusing on that. My former home started the year by battling some of the worst bushfires in history. More than 30 people died, thousands of homes burned to the ground, and flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world were devastated. Closer to home, forecasters are already predicting significant spring floods in parts of Minnesota. Over the past year, Duluth has received a lot of attention as a potential destination for climate refugees.
These are all significant challenges. In order to address them, the world will need critical thinkers who can devise creative solutions, build coalitions, and engage with diverse communities. As you’ll see in this issue of CLArion, CLA students, faculty, and alumni are taking leading roles in addressing these challenges head on.
Just as the world around us is undergoing changes, so is the college. As you may have seen, the College of Liberal Arts and the School of Fine Arts will be coming together to create a new college as of July 1st. This is an exciting opportunity to bring the fine arts, social sciences, and humanities together. It will allow us to maintain the wide range of programs we already have and create new interdisciplinary initiatives. Keep your eyes peeled for more information as things progress!
As we were putting the finishing touches on this issue of CLArion, our collective world changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In short order, campus closed, everyone began working from home, and all instruction moved online. This was an incredible change, but I am amazed by the resilience and commitment of our students, staff, and faculty to these disruptions. We’re working to do everything we can to support our CLA family during these times, and you can find out more about the effect COVID-19 is having on campus by checking out the UMD webpage.
CLA is the heart of UMD, and I’m thrilled to work with all of you to continue offering our students a great education here on the North Shore.