University of Illinois

bjw

Speeches and statements

Welcome Announcement

President B. Joseph White
Monday, January 31, 2005


To the University of Illinois Community:

The first day on a new job always gets the adrenalin going. That is certainly the case with me on this day, my first as 16th president of the University of Illinois.

My wife, Mary, and I moved into the President’s House ten days ago, with our dog, Webster — small in stature, big in personality. The house has served U of I presidents since the 1930s and it is a privilege to make it our home. We look forward to welcoming many of you there, from our three campuses, in the years ahead.

I want you to know how honored I am to serve you and this great University as president.  I believe deeply in the transforming power of education and research and in the value of a great public university with its mission of service. The University of Illinois is one of the world’s great universities; it has a rich history and an exciting future.  I look forward to continuing the University’s tradition of longevity in presidential leadership. 

In this regard, I want to thank former President Jim Stukel for his deep commitment and distinguished contributions to the University of Illinois for more than forty years.  Mary and I are grateful to Jim and Joan for welcoming us so warmly. And we join the University community in wishing them the very best in the years ahead.  

To faculty and staff: thank you for the part you play in the life of the University. I know that you have weathered difficult times in recent years. I cannot promise they are over but I will do my best to bring in the resources we need.

To students: At the top of my agenda is enhancing the quality of your education and maximizing the value of your degrees.

Since my appointment was announced November 2, I have visited our three campuses several times, and met students, faculty and staff in Chicago, Springfield and Urbana as well as trustees, mayors, legislators, media and alumni. This has been a great experience!  Clearly, there is no shortage of human energy and interest to tap as we chart the course and secure the future of our great University. In my first week I will be back to all three campuses, building on and expanding the contacts made in the last three months.

Like you, I hate long e-mail messages, so let me conclude by telling you what I hope to accomplish on your behalf as president. I would like to look back years from now and say that while I served:

  • Members of our community thrived professionally and personally.
  • The world’s esteem for and our own pride in the University of Illinois soared.
  • We helped create a positive future for the people of Illinois through U of I contributions in such vital areas as education, health care and economic development.
  • We created a new compact among key stakeholders to ensure proper funding of the University.
  • We worked with each other every day with integrity, honesty and a sense of humor and perspective and we always treated each other with dignity and respect.

I hope these aspirations square with your own.  I welcome your thoughts and ideas and look forward to a great future together. 

Yours for Illinois,

Joe

Joe White

PresidentWhite@uillinois.edu



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