Year-End Thanks
June 26, 2014
Dear Colleagues,
As spring quarter closes, I want to take a moment to thank everyone for another fine year. De Anza has managed the passage from budget nightmare to stability (but not yet full recovery) with grace and skill, thanks to you. Each of you has contributed not only to this successful passage but to the continued success of our students: athletic championships, awards for academic and civic excellence, and university admissions and scholarships numbering in the thousands.
Commencement is this Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. in the Stadium. If you're attending, first of all, my thanks; your presence at this event honors our students. Please arrive at the Planetarium no later than 8:45 a.m. in order to line up for the processional.
Our speaker this year is William D. Adams, retiring president of Colby College and President Obama’s nominee to become chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities. His confirmation by the U.S. Senate is pending. He accepted our invitation as a signal that he wishes to reach out to community colleges in order to broaden the role of the humanities in American public life. Bro, as he's known, is terrific, and I'm sure you will enjoy his talk.
Our reputation as a college that engages students and encourages their full development is nationwide, and our students are proud to say they come from De Anza. A special note of appreciation to the many faculty and staff who have expressed their condolences on the passing of one of California's great heroes of civic life and education, state Senator John Vasconcellos. Thanks to the Academic Senate for supporting the renaming of our Institute for Community and Civic Engagement in his honor. We will be proud to be the first public institution in the state to so honor him.
Thank you again for everything you do, and—for those of you not returning immediately for summer session on Monday—have an excellent break. For those who will be working during the session, I wish you a restful break later in the summer.
Sincerely,
Brian Murphy