A message from the Dean
Dear UNC Hussman community and friends,
As the last day of classes wrapped up this past Friday, I looked back at this academic year and was amazed by all that the Hussman community was able to achieve. I know that the semester is not over yet, and that Commencement is still two weeks away, but as seniors and graduate students get ready to walk across the stage to receive their diplomas, it is impossible not to feel proud and happy for their achievements. And it is impossible not to be excited about how our community was able to pull together this past year to support and propel our students into their success.
Just 10 days ago, I had the opportunity to speak to our Foundation Board and our Board of Advisers about our accomplishments this past year and about our plans for the future. This semester, UNC Hussman achieved the highest enrollment in our history: 1,223 undergraduate and 143 graduate students. We are anticipating even higher numbers of students next fall, putting us close to 1,300 undergraduates and 150 graduate students! Our enrollment has climbed steadily in the past five years, bucking enrollment trends across the country and solidifying our position as “school of choice” (and major of choice) for countless students in North Carolina and beyond.
I am very grateful to our dedicated staff and faculty, who have gone above and beyond to serve our growing number of students. Just this spring we were able to onboard six new full-time faculty colleagues (four of them replacing departing faculty) and eight new staff (two of them in newly created positions). It is quite a feat to search and hire 14 new colleagues in one semester, so a big thank you to our faculty and staff who led that process. And a big welcome once again to our new colleagues!
If you have been reading this monthly newsletter, you already know that building UNC Hussman as a welcoming, harmonious and inclusive community has been one of my biggest goals for this past year. As I always say, this is an ongoing effort with tons of room for improvement along the way—it’s hard work that requires intentionality and constant attention. As you will read in this month’s stories, we keep making great strides in this area. From our joint efforts with UNC’s LGBTQ+ Center to celebrate Pride Month and International Trans Day of Visibility to our Week of Kindness and Last Day of Classes (LDOC) events last week, we are working hard to make sure students, faculty and staff feel supported, proud and happy to be working in a collaborative environment where everyone is making an effort to welcome and include them.
May is also AAPI pride month, but like many other universities, UNC moved most celebrations to April to make sure we recognize the rich culture of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders while most students and faculty are still on campus. Please take a minute to browse our newly created DEI website (dei.hussman.unc.edu) for a glimpse into the many ways in which we are collaborating to create a better experience for all, and check out UNC’s dedicated AAPI Heritage Month page.
Our Dean’s Student Advisory Council students joined forces with the Hussman Ambassadors to organize three student listening sessions in the past 10 days in which students were asked candid questions about their past and current experiences at the school. We hope to use the feedback we gather from the focus groups to address students’ concerns and suggestions and make the school a better place. And that also will include changing our curriculum to improve how we deliver our classes and include new skills we need to be teaching to prepare students for emerging careers in media and journalism.
As I mentioned, Commencement is less than two weeks away, on May 13. Our own alumna Rochelle Riley, currently the arts and culture director for the city of Detroit, will be the graduation speaker and — judging from the fabulous job she does on our Foundation Board and as the emcee for the NC Media & Journalism Hall of Fame induction ceremony (see below) — I can’t wait to hear the advice Rochelle will give to our graduating students and their families and friends. I invite all of you to join us at Carmichael Arena on the afternoon of the 13th for what promises to be a terrific ceremony.
Soon I will have the opportunity to share with you our plans for the summer and the upcoming year. In the meantime, please take a second to read more about our community members’ incredible achievements and awards. Don’t forget to stay connected here and on social media. Let us know what you have been up to and stop by the school anytime.
Go Heels!
Best,
Dean Raul Reis