Dear CCAS Community,
As most of you know, this month marks the final leg of my five-year journey as dean of the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. Beginning July 1, I am moving on to become provost and executive vice president at Case Western Reserve University. While I’m excited about the next chapter, it has been extremely difficult saying goodbye to this remarkable community of students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the college. Never in my career have I felt so deeply for a place and its people, and that’s really because of each of you.
Typically, departing deans and administrators spend a lot of time thinking about how they want to be remembered. For me, I think a lot these days about how I’m going to remember you. I think about our students—a smart, quick, driven, socially conscious, entrepreneurial, caring and demanding group. They are our future, and in seeing them operate, the future is bright. Their level of accomplishment and potential is astounding, even mesmerizing, and it has been a pleasure helping them navigate their academic career.
I also think about our faculty—a brilliant, humble, inquisitive, passionate and talented body of scholars. What distinguishes them is a combination of deep scholarly excellence combined with a unique, Zen-like humility that is not often seen in academe. It has been my honor to assist them in reaching their scholarly aspirations.
And I think about our staff—committed individuals solving problems with creativity, task-oriented and friendly people whose work contributes greatly to the success of this institution. I could ask for no better group of individuals by my side, and no brighter spirits to help move the college forward.
"My sincere appreciation to our entire community for making my GW experience one I will never forget and always cherish."
Dean Ben Vinson III
Finally, I think about our amazing network of alumni, parents and friends of the college—a deeply dedicated group who reach back through each act of kindness, each gift and each return visit. They remember, like I am now remembering and will continue to remember, the greatness that is this place and look forward to the greatness that is to come. They complement our academic mission and make it possible for us to soar as high as we have been soaring in recent years
Because of each of you, every nook and cranny of this institution is vibrant and alive. Like fast moving pistons, the college is firing on all cylinders, moving forward with frenetic energy. And through you, it will continue to soar. My sincere appreciation to our entire community for making my GW experience one I will never forget and always cherish. I truly feel I’ve made connections that will last a lifetime. Thank you for our wonderful time together.
Fondly,
Ben Vinson III
Dean, Columbian College of Arts & Sciences