I am so pleased to extend Trinity’s warmest welcome to all of our new students, staff and faculty, and a hearty “Welcome Back!” to all returning students. 2002-2003 promises to be one of the best, most exciting, years ever in Trinity’s history, and we all are fortunate to be witnesses to some historic moments as the academic year unfolds. Following are just some of the highlights of current news and upcoming events. For the full list, please visit Trinity’s website www.trinitydc.edu regularly, since many announcements and events are posted there daily.

As I write, we have welcomed more than 200 new students in the College of Arts and Science, and we are anticipating welcoming many more in the School of Professional Studies and School of Education. In fact, this semester, we anticipate more than 700 new students total entering Trinity’s three schools — a record for new student enrollment! This great influx of new students will also boost Trinity’s total enrollment to an all-time high. We will not have final numbers until later in the semester, but we do expect our total degree enrollment to be close to 1600.

The new students in CAS represent 18 states and the District of Columbia, and numerous nations including Kuwait, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Aruba, Mexico, Haiti, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Vietnam, France, Russia, India, Kuwait and others. The great diversity of Trinity’s student body is enhanced greatly by our new students, and I know that everyone on campus will look forward to getting to know these outstanding women. Welcome!

We are quite honored this year to have the presence of two distinguished visiting scholars.

Dr. Lenora Peters Gant will be a Scholar-in-Residence for the next two years. Dr. Gant is Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency for Community Management. Her scholarly residence at Trinity will contribute significantly to our developing programs in intelligence studies and international affairs.

Dr. Yuri Amalyaniuk is a Regional Exchange Scholar from Minsk, Belarus. The program is through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.

We have a number of new faculty and staff colleagues, or new positions for familiar faces:

Dr. Saundra Herndon Oyewole is still a dean, now Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, having retired her Dean of the Faculty title. Dr. Oyewole steps into the position vacated by Dr. Lori Shpunt who is taking a well-deserved sabbatical after two years in executive administration.

Dr. William Steel who has been the Program Director for Information Technology Programs in the School of Professional Studies has been promoted to Associate Dean for SPS, and he is also serving as Acting Dean following the departure of former Dean Sara Thompson who is now working at Catholic University.

Ms. Michele “Meechie” Bowie has been promoted to Associate Dean of Student Services, working primarily with CAS students in close cooperation with Dean Oyewole, and in this position she also serves as Trinity’s chief student affairs officer. Ms. Alysia Lajune will soon join Dean Meechie as Director of Student Activities.

Ms. Stacy Richardson is the new Future Focus Director, joining the advising team led by Associate Dean Dorothy Harris.

Ms. Barbara Lettiere is Trinity’s new Vice President for Financial Affairs and Chief Financial Officer. Formerly a senior executive with the Bell Atlantic Corporation, Ms. Lettiere heads up a great new team of professionals in Trinity’s Business Office, including our new Controller Holly Perkins along with other new staff.

Mr. Daniel Slattery holds the newly-created position of Director of Operations, a position he formerly held at the College of Mt. St. Vincent, Simmons College and Boston University. That experience will serve him well as he oversees Trinity’s operations in Physical Plant, Food Service, Security, the Bookstore and Auxiliary Enterprises.

Dr. Anne Coates-Conaway has retired from the faculty in the School of Education. We are so deeply grateful to Dr. Coates-Conaway for her years of leadership in our Counseling Program. We have a search underway to hire new faculty in Counseling.

Dr. Marta Loyola has joined the faculty as a visiting assistant professor in the Spanish Program.

Dr. Carolyn Bocian is a new member of the faculty in Environmental Science.

Ms. Robin Vazquez also joins the faculty as a writing instructor in the English Program.

Dr. Sandra Anderson has become the Program Director for the Educational Administration Program in the School of Education.

We are planning several different events to commemorate September 11. This will be a regular class day, and we are urging all faculty to take at least a few minutes with each class to reflect on the meaning of the day. An early morning prayer service will mark the moments of the tragedy, and later in the morning those who wish to come together will gather in Social Hall to discuss what has happened since that day. In the evening we will have a candlelight vigil followed by a panel presentation on political and diplomatic responses.

A full schedule of the day will be available shortly and will also be on our website.

Even as we’re opening school, we are mindful that Cap & Gown Weekend (September 21-22) is just a few weeks away. Congratulations to the Gold Class of 2003!!

The festivities begin with the Cap & Gown Convocation at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, September 21, in Notre Dame Chapel. All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to come cheer for the seniors as they don their caps and gowns for the first time. The faculty also wear their colorful academic regalia, and underclass students also march in the procession carrying the flags representing the vast array of nations in Trinity’s student body.

Our special guest for the Convocation will be Ms. Kellyanne Fitzpatrick Conway ’89, founder and owner of The Polling Company, one of the leading political pollsters. You will enjoy hearing her talk about how she built her company and established her career in a highly competitive field, including garnering regular space on television and in other media.

NOVEMBER 23 – SAVE THE DATE! That’s the day we’ve chosen for the dedication of the new Sports Center, and hundreds of our benefactors, alumnae and friends will join us on campus for the party and ceremony. The new Center will be ready for all uses by January 1. Hooray!

We have fabulous teams this year, and the schedules for soccer, field hockey, basketball, crew, tennis, lacrosse, track and field and other sports are on the website. Come cheer for the team!

Good luck to all students as you undertake a new year of study and achievement. Thanks to all colleagues for your hard work and dedication to Trinity’s ideals. Together, we make the mission of Trinity come alive each day. Have a great new year!