President's Epilogue
Final Thoughts on Our Future
Wayne State students, staff, faculty, alumni, and friends hold this institution in high regard for a reason. The College was borne out of the hard work, tenacity, and grit of early leaders and has been sustained and advanced by the same spirit throughout its history.
Wayne State does not exist by accident. College leaders throughout our past have seized upon opportunities to push what was once a storefront teachers’ college to the comprehensive regional institution we are today. Each step of the way, from “normal school” to state college, members of this community have embraced social and economic changes, championed innovative approaches to education, and withstood the challenges of time.
Today, we are stronger than ever, but the landscape is still far from settled. Changing demographics, shifting demands in the workforce, aging infrastructure, and the need among students and their families for an affordable and accessible path to a four-year degree require the kind of strategic thinking that has marked Wayne State’s continued evolution in higher education. This new strategic plan represents the best and brightest path forward to remain an impactful institution of higher learning.
We have built our future on the foundation laid by Wayne State community members from every corner of campus. From the students and their families who have trusted us with their education and the faculty who have poured themselves into the process, to the staff who have worked hard at all manners of jobs in support of teaching and learning and the leaders who have provided steady direction, Wayne State has benefitted from a singular sense of commitment to our mission.
Now, we are calling on this same tradition to take the next bold steps. We are on a mission to inspire, to strengthen, and to serve. We take on this mission guided by the values of culture and community, diversity, engaged learning, innovation and agility, partnerships, and a commitment to sustainability that will serve us not just today, but serve those future generations who will look back at us with the same sense of gratitude we have for those who came before us.
I look forward to working with each of you as we set the stage for the future. Go Cats!
