| Dear Faculty Friends and Colleagues, The rhythm of the academic year—for me, anyway—creates many occasions for self-reflection, learning, and goal-setting. The beginning of classes brings not only these opportunities, but also a sense of excitement and anticipation. On campus this week, I’ve felt the sense of possibility that comes when students and faculty come together again—full of ideas, questions, and eagerness for what lies ahead. I’m still very much in the process of learning about our remarkable community, but already I have been struck by the talent and commitment of our faculty and the curiosity and passion of our students. Our incredible staff, too, are integral to our educational mission, and I encourage you to take a moment to express gratitude to them for all they do. The strengths I see are inspiring, and they make me very optimistic about the future we are building together. I’ve seen many of you this week welcoming students with authenticity, openness, and care. You’re modeling what it means to pursue truth, foster dialogue, and cultivate community with both academic rigor and genuine kindness—values that I believe define WashU at its very best. Your commitment in classrooms, labs, studios, and coffee shops (or wherever you write, edit, or otherwise work on caffeine-fueled projects) matters deeply. In your teaching students find mentors, discover new ways of thinking, and begin to see their own potential. We often hear from alumni how their encounters with faculty during their early semesters shaped their trajectories. That influence starts now—with every question asked, every idea explored, and every connection made. Some of the moments that seem fleeting for us can be life-changing for them. For many of us, teaching informs our research. Almost everything I’ve ever published is in some way connected to a conversation with a student (including, in my own case, a quick search of Japanese court rulings—initially meant to confirm my belief that a student comment was probably wrong—that eventually led to a book in which I basically attached evidence to an argument that the student was correct). And of course, research and the curiosity that inspires it makes us better teachers as well—better able to contextualize, personalize, and share knowledge both old and new with our future leaders. Amidst all this excitement, of course, we can’t be naïve. This semester arrives amid broader challenges facing higher education—pressures that test our institutions and, at times, our resolve. But those same complexities also clarify our purpose and the essential role we each play in it. Through our work, most visibly perhaps in our teaching, we demonstrate what it means to engage deeply, listen attentively, and guide generously. When I wrote to you previously as I concluded my first week as provost, I promised to show up with a service mindset rooted in listening, transparency, and respect for the work you carry out every day. That commitment holds especially true now: guiding, advocating for, and collaborating with you to ensure that the practices, policies, and structures of the university support our academic mission. Thank you for the care, creativity, and conviction you bring to our students and this university. I am inspired by what lies ahead—and deeply honored to walk alongside you this semester. And as we dive into the rhythm that this time of year brings: Let’s go! Best, Mark Mark D. West Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs |