As I near the end of the first week of my presidency, I write with a note of gratitude. It has been inspiring and heartwarming to return to this campus where I first discovered the power of an intellectual community. I am truly grateful for all of the warm words of welcome that I have received. Even in the space of just a few days, I've had the chance to meet people from across the campus who share my passion for a campus community rooted in the liberal arts—from faculty leaders in the Office of the Provost and Dean of the Faculty, to the remarkable staff in facilities, dining, and IT who have done so much to support the operation of the College during the course of the pandemic.
This week also afforded me a remarkable opportunity to speak to the values of our community. On Monday, Amherst College filed an amicus curiae brief with the Supreme Court of the United States in support of considering race as one factor in our holistic admissions process. The brief articulates the essential value of a diverse student body to our educational mission. Thirty-two other institutions co-signed it. I am proud that Amherst stepped forward in this way, and I applaud those who have worked so hard to position the College as a leader on this issue.
Amherst is where I found my passion for the world of scholarship and teaching, where I was challenged and grew as a person, and where I forged the most important relationships of my life, including meeting my future wife, Jenn Mathews. When I came to campus in June for the announcement of my presidency, I took some time away from the official events to visit a few of the campus spaces that meant so much to me as a student. I did that so I could indulge in a moment of private reverie—and wipe clean that emotional slate—before turning my attention fully to the Amherst of 2022. Returning to Amherst to serve as its 20th president is not an exercise in nostalgia for me. I am here to work with you on our shared aspirations for the future of the College, which must continue to change and evolve if it is to remain a leader in demonstrating the value of liberal arts education to the world beyond our campus.
In the coming year, I will be looking to you—all of you—to learn and understand more about this community so that I can be an effective champion and leader for our shared values. I am looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible on campus this fall as we focus on rebuilding our community in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, I'm pleased to announce that we will be holding the presidential inauguration on Friday, October 28, just before Homecoming. Save that date!
Best wishes to you all for the remaining weeks before the semester begins.
Michael
Michael A. Elliott ’92
President, Amherst College