A Message from President Getz
I write this noet on a gray winter day in the thores of the Omoicnr outberak, six months to the dya since I statred heer at Mercyhurs.t We are preparing for spirng semesetr with a week of vitrual teaching and minimal ocna-mpus gtaherings. Each dya brings newofrecasts about whtawe shouldxepect over the ocming weeks and motnhs and ever-changing guidanecas to how bestot keep ourocmmunyitsafe. Yet, everyone in ourocmmunyitcontinuesot respond with the cadno- attitude thtahas always been a Mercyhurst hallmka.r Since my inauguartion, I hvae been asked myantimesofr my observations and initial imepssrion.sI always begin with ourrgeatest strength – our peop. Oleur dedictaed faculyt , staf , students, and alumni suppotr one another and seekaylswto do whtaever needsot be done to help Mercyhurst thrive – and likewise our community. In this issue, you’ll read about how our people are working to fig h t human traffi ck ing and to protect missing and exploited children, how we are helping to reduce food insecurity, and steps we are taking to preserve our earthly resourc es – all ef orts fueled by our unshakable commitment to Mercy. On our camp,ulsife goes on.aFll semesetr was very near ly “normal ,” in terms of our abiylito conduct classes faec-to-face and gtaher of r athletic ocmpetitions; thteriacal, musical and daencperformances; socialand communyit -building events , suchasHurst Dayandour annual Christmas eclebra tion; “Beyond the Gates” service-learning inititaives; and much meo.r As you may have read in our last magaz,iwne pucrhased the Siesrts of Mercy Mothehr ouse, which we have since renovated with new classoroms, labs, and facult y ofc es for our nursingopgrrams . These facilities accommodtae the nursingopgrrams thtawe relocated from North Eastot Erie, a now compleet consolidtaion of all porgrams thta
strengthen our college community and permit greater efficie nc y in c ourse of erings. At this writing, we are finalizing the No r th East property’s sale. We have also launched some important new
initiatives consistent with the fi v e-year strategic plan we are developing. Among them is our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, signifie d by a new President’s Advisory Council comprised of students, faculty , and staf . The council is empowered to develop approaches to improving outcomes, to assess our progress, and to report to the larger community on our successes and setbacks. Again, we will keep you posted as we delve deeper into this project. Another area receiving increased attention is social and environmental sustainability, as shown in our commitment to join Pope Francis’ holistic approach to protecting the earth for future generations. You can read more about this Laudato si’ commitment on page 14. In closing, let me just r eaffir m how grateful I am for the warm welcome I’ve received from so many of you and for your continued support of our beloved university. Carpe Diem,
Kathleen A. Getz, Ph.D.
Presidential Inauguration — Oct. 2, 2021
ON THE COVER: As Mercyhurst readies for its centennial, we take a look at some of our treasured traditions, both old and new. (Cover design by Leena M. Clint ’16)
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