January 17, 2023
Dear Scripps Community:
Happy New Year! I hope you had the opportunity to rest and relax over winter break, and that all of you return to campus re-energized and eager for the experiences the spring semester will bring us. Let me add a note of gratitude to those who cared for Scripps during the break, especially during the record-breaking rain. For those who are joining Scripps for the first time this January, please accept my warm welcome on all our behalf. We dressed the campus up in lush green to mark the occasion!
Everywhere I travel for Scripps, I share my enthusiasm for our strategic initiatives, including: I’m excited to convey the following College news and updates with you by this letter, in hopes of engaging in person before too long.
Inauguration
Faculty, staff, and students are hard at work planning the program for my upcoming inauguration, to be held April 28–29, in conjunction with Reunion Weekend. I hope that you will join us for the many excellent events planned for inauguration, including a president’s forum featuring accomplished alums, a showcase of our student and faculty collaborations, and an evening of dinner and dancing! Look for more information in the next few weeks, including an inauguration website with an events calendar and RSVP instructions.
Commencement
This year’s Commencement is on May 13, and I know that the Class of 2023 is already eager to celebrate! Additional information and updates, including the announcement of the Commencement speaker, will be shared with the community and posted on the College’s Commencement website in the coming weeks.
DEIJ
As part of the College’s strategic plan under IDEA 2.0, the Equity and Justice Leadership Team is moving forward with several key programs and initiatives. Under the Leadership Team’s sponsorship, the Department of Psychology, the W.M. Keck Science Department, and the divisions of Academic Affairs, Business Affairs, and Student Affairs have volunteered to participate in a pilot program to discuss and develop specific steps they can use to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in their programming. Participants attended a fall workshop on the importance of moving from DEIJ statements to actions. Soon those action plans will be shared with all departments. The Leadership Team has also drafted a new framework for defining the College’s DEIJ vision, goals, priorities, and responsibilities toward achievement of new pillars. The campus community will be invited to provide thoughts and input in the coming months. Visit the IDEA site for more information and resources.
CMS Athletics
Please join me in congratulating our fall sports scholar-athletes on their academic and athletic achievements last semester, particularly the CMS Athenas volleyball team, which notched its first perfect regular season! Fran and I were thrilled to witness their SCIAC-clinching victory. I look forward to continuing to cheer for the Athenas during the winter and spring sports seasons. Join me in the stands when you’re on campus!
Public Events
Scripps Presents will return this spring with an exciting slate of programs to be announced this week. The Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery will host its Ceramic Annual, running from January 21-April 2, and the Clark Humanities Museum will display The Camera as Witness, led by Professor Julia Lum, from January 17-March 8. The Humanities Institute continues its program Propagating Cultural Power under the direction of Professor Martha Gonzalez this spring. Events like these expand our horizons, celebrate creativity, challenge our views, and stimulate empathetic engagement—as well as providing opportunities for us to meet, if you are on campus. I encourage you to attend some of the rich variety of programs and offerings throughout the semester and to introduce yourself to me!
Presidential Tour and Author Salon
Since October, I’ve met many inspiring Scripps community members in Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles as part of my Presidential Tour and Author Salon series. I’ve been impressed and invigorated by the thoughtfulness of Scripps alums, parents, and families as they’ve engaged with the writers and one another at these events. It’s inspiring to hear directly from them about the extraordinary impact of a Scripps education. I look forward to meeting more members of our greater Scripps community at our spring Author Salon and Cheers & Chats events in San Diego, New York City, Boston, and Washington, DC.
For additional information about College news and updates, please visit the Scripps College website.
Yours truly,
Suzanne Keen
President