December 11, 2020

Hello, everyone,

According to the meteorologists, it may have been possible over these past few nights to catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis—the Northern Lights—right here in Northern Colorado. I hope some of you actually bundled up and went outside to see what you could see. I found myself thinking about this unexpected phenomenon a lot, long after reading the news stories about it. We all could use a little light right now, and maybe a reminder that sometimes the surprises our world has to offer can be wonderful ones.

Next week is finals week, so I want to wish all our students—undergraduate and graduate, here on campus, in Fort Collins, or home with family—good luck and success. You all have worked so hard this semester and I want you to know that I have faith in you and believe your work will pay off. Our entire CSU community is so proud of all that you’ve accomplished and we’re rooting for you as we head into the home stretch of the Fall 2020 semester.

We also are entering a season when many of us celebrate cultural, historic and religious traditions around light in the darkness. To all of you who are celebrating—and likely doing so in very different ways than you are accustomed—I wish you joyful and restful holidays in the coming weeks.

Finally, I want to say again what I have said to you—students, faculty, and staff—many times this semester, but which I truly cannot say often enough: thank you! Thank you for all that you do every day and every semester for CSU and thank you for all that you have done these past few months in particular. You have been lights in the darkness for one another and for us all.

Warmly,

Joyce