Dear Eastern Students,

Tomorrow, many of you, including those voting for the first time, have the opportunity to participate in one of the most vital civic duties: casting your vote. As college students and critical thinkers, you’re uniquely positioned to contribute meaningfully to our democracy, and I encourage each of you to make plans to vote if you haven’t done so already. Your voice matters greatly in shaping the future of our communities, our nation, and our world. If you have any questions about voting, please visit www.easternct.edu/vote, sign up for a ride to the polls [link removed], & or reach out to universityrelations@easternct.edu.

Reflecting on my own journey, I am reminded of the exhilarating and humbling experience of voting in the United States for the first time in 2016 after becoming a U.S. citizen. Having had the privilege of voting in three nations – in the UK as an overseas voter, in Canada, and here in the United States – I deeply value this shared commitment to the democratic process. Standing in that voting booth, I felt connected to countless others who had become naturalized citizens throughout history, each of us contributing to a legacy of participation and shared responsibility.

I understand that election seasons can bring about strong feelings and spirited discussions. Here at Eastern, we remain dedicated to creating spaces for meaningful dialogue rooted in respect, decency, and a commitment to democratic engagement. Our community has shown this commitment throughout the Voting Matters initiative, from the weeklong open classrooms to the tireless efforts of the SGA and our student clubs in voter registration. This dedication is what makes Eastern special – we come together not just to learn but to uplift and support one another through every moment.

As we look to tomorrow, remember that Eastern’s resources and commitment to you – our students – remain steadfast, regardless of the election’s outcome.

Thank you for being a part of this important journey and for making your voices heard.

Warm regards,

Karim Ismaili, Ph.D.
President

Dear campus community,

During last month’s university meeting, I expressed my intention to organize a semester-long listening and learning tour. This endeavor will give me an invaluable opportunity to learn more about Eastern from the countless people – including faculty, students, staff, alums, and members of the greater community – who believe in its historic promise and help bring it to life every day. At the conclusion of the tour, I will synthesize what I have learned into a report to share and discuss with the campus community and key external stakeholders. Ideally, this collective effort will provide critical material to inform a strategic planning process we will launch in 2025.

As we begin this tour, I have two overarching requests for those who choose to participate. First, I genuinely wish that people see themselves as having an equal voice throughout this process. No matter your role, title, rank, or longevity, you each possess valuable insights into where Eastern stands today, and many of you likely have inspiring ideas for what could come next. Please know that all are welcome to engage in this conversation, and everyone starts on equal footing.

Second, I encourage you to share your thoughts on anything of importance, keeping in mind that we have an opportunity to engage in an institutional conversation grounded in the broader context of what binds us together. This includes:

• Our mission: To engage students from all backgrounds in a transformative, liberal arts learning experience that provides knowledge and skills to lead enriching, purposeful lives.
• Our designation: Connecticut’s public liberal arts university, affirmed by Eastern’s Liberal Arts Core learning outcomes – critical thinking, ethical reasoning, communication, creativity, and quantitative literacy – and furthered by our commitments to the first-year experience as well as high-impact practices
• Our mission class: A regional public institution, which compels us to serve students and improve the overall quality of life in the surrounding communities and throughout Connecticut.
• Our enduring university culture: A steadfast commitment to fostering a living, learning, and working environment that is both welcoming and inclusive.

The critical question before us is: How can we more fully embrace these principles in a way that honors our past and better prepares us for a future where we can grow even stronger?

Or, put another way: How can we build on the best of what we are while ensuring our path forward is one of our own choosing?

Each session will last approximately one hour with groups of 10-15 participants. Ms. Candace DeAngelis, an Eastern alumna, longtime employee, and Director of Student Activities, has kindly agreed to support this effort. Beyond the participants themselves, she and I will be the only ones present. A separate announcement describing the sign-up process and addressing logistical questions will be forthcoming from Candace.

I’m excited to start this conversation and hope you are eager to participate. While I’m confident this tour will be of great value to me as your new president, I am equally hopeful it will be a meaningful opportunity for all of us to listen and learn together.

Kindest regards,

Karim Ismaili, Ph.D.
President

Dear campus community,

Tomorrow marks the 23^rd anniversary of the devastating terrorist attacks that took the lives of nearly 3,000 people and injured more than 6,000 others in New York City, Shanksville, Pa., and at the Pentagon. As has been the tradition at Eastern, special chimes will ring out at 8:46 a.m. tomorrow morning, the time when the first plane struck the World Trade Center. I ask that all members of our university community observe a moment of silence to remember the innocent victims and to reflect on the bravery, sacrifice, compassion, and solidarity that emerged in response to the tragedies. You are invited to visit the September 11 memorial tree outside Gelsi-Young Hall throughout the day. As we reflect and remember, let us individually and collectively reaffirm our commitment to democracy, liberty, and hope over oppression, hate, and fear.

Kindest regards,

Karim Ismaili, Ph.D.
President

Dear Warriors,

Welcome to the 2024-2025 academic year! As the new president of Eastern, I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to join our dedicated faculty and staff to serve you and to help you succeed. I encourage you to take advantage of the many resources and opportunities available as you begin or continue your educational journey. Ask questions, share your thoughts, and know that we are ready to listen and do all that we can to improve your experience at the university. I also hope that you will take the time to visit me during the special student office hours that will be scheduled each month.

Like many of you, I was a first-generation college student and understand the hard work it takes – both in and out of the classroom – to complete your program of study. That journey can be extremely rewarding, especially if you connect with your peers and get involved in the amazing student clubs and organizations on campus. Visit your professors and meet the staff at Eastern. They believe in you and will do all that they can to help you achieve your dreams.

I look forward to seeing you at events, in the dining halls, and during various campus gatherings. Speaking of which, I hope to see you at the Fall Student Involvement Fair & President's Picnic tomorrow, Wednesday, September 4, 2024, from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM on the Student Center Patio. This will be a great opportunity to connect, have fun, and explore all that Eastern has to offer.

Most of all, I wish you the very best for a successful year.

Go Warriors!

Warmly,

Karim Ismaili, Ph.D.
President

Dear campus community,

It is the honor of my professional life to join Eastern as the president of this exceptional institution. At the university meeting held last Friday, I described the genuine warmth and kindness extended to me by so many of you following the announcement of my appointment, and especially over the past three weeks. Thank you for making me feel part of this very special community.

I wanted to take this opportunity to recap the important news shared at the meeting.

New Employees

It is a pleasure to welcome the following new employees to the university:

• Full-Time, Tenure-Track Faculty
  • Atef Bondok, Computer Science
  • Ashley Cote, Health Sciences & Nursing
  • Laura Dzurec, Health Sciences & Nursing
  • Stanislaw Kolek, Psychological Science
  • Li Liang, Economics & Finance
  • Sarah Walters, Health Sciences & Nursing
• Full-Time, One-Year/One-Semester Faculty
  • Amanda Leiss, Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology and Social Work
  • Ellen Smith, Health Sciences & Nursing
• Full-Time Staff
  • Jonathan Atkinson, Residence Hall Director, Housing & Residential Life
  • Kolin Ebron, Assistant Director, University Opportunity Programs
  • Tehya Hargett-Cerase, Assistant to the Director, Financial Aid
  • Keniesha Johnson, Assistant Director, Field Education & Special Programs, Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology and Social Work
  • Christopher Kelly, Custodian, Facilities Management and Planning
  • Steven Lavoie, Quality Craft Worker – Electrical, Facilities Management and Planning
  • Jena Lopes, Secretary II, Communication, Film & Theatre
  • Raphael Lopez II, Landscape Technician, Facilities Management and Planning
  • Ryan Mariasi, Customer Support Center Assistant, Information Technology Services
  • Tamara Mills, Associate Director, Athletics
  • Joseph Mongillo, Counseling Fellow, Counseling and Psychological Services
  • Donald Nevico, Custodian, Facilities Management and Planning
  • Scott Olm, Senior Systems Administrator, Information Technology Services
  • Marci Parsons, Custodian, Facilities Management and Planning
  • Kerri Rosa, Detective, Public Safety

Service Awards and Recognition of Retirees

Please join me in congratulating the following individuals for their dedicated service to the university over 10, 20, and 25 years, and wishing the very best to our retirees.

Service Awards

• 10 Years of Service
  • Matthew Bourhillier, Maintenance Supervisor II – Carpentry, Facilities Management and Planning
  • Beverly Brown, Police Officer, Public Safety
  • Tao Chen, Associate Professor, Art & Art History
  • Jehoon Jeon, Associate Professor, Business Administration
  • Niki Kunene, Associate Professor, Accounting & Business Information Systems
  • Kurt Lucin, Associate Professor, Biology
  • Jenna Scisco, Associate Professor, Psychological Science
  • Allison Speicher, Associate Professor, English
  • Jordan Youngblood, Associate Professor, English
• 20 Years of Service
  • Daniel Barrows, Jr., Landscape Technician, Facilities Management and Planning
  • Alita Cousins, Professor, Psychological Science
  • Michael Gadoury, Library Technician, Library
  • Kehan Gao, Professor, Computer Science
  • Jennifer Leszczynski, Professor, Psychological Science
  • Charles Liskiewicz, Quality Craft Worker – HVAC, Facilities Management and Planning
  • Kwame Osei Bonsu, Professor, Mathematical Sciences
  • Benjamin Pauley, Interim Provost & Vice-President, Academic Affairs
• 25 Years of Service
  • Michele Bacholle, Professor, World Languages & Cultures
  • Angela Bazin, Director, Wellness Education Outreach & Veteran Care
  • Kimberly Dugan, Professor, Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology and Social Work
  • Thomas Holton, Athletic Trainer IV, Athletics
  • Drew Hyatt, Professor, Environmental Earth Science
  • Anna Nayshul, Programmer Specialist, Information Technology Services
  • David Pellegrini, Professor, Communication, Film & Theatre
  • Moh’d RuJoub, Professor, Accounting & Business Information Systems
  • Theresa Severance, Professor, Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology and Social Work

Retirees

• Stephen Day, Qualified Craft Worker – Carpentry, Facilities Management and Planning
• Monica O’Connor, Administrative Assistant, Counseling and Psychological Services
• Gaylen Spicer, Mail Handler, Facilities Management and Planning

Academic Affairs

Thanks to the collaborative work of so many, this fall marks the implementation of Eastern’s Liberal Arts Core (ELAC). I encourage you to visit the ELAC website to learn more about the new core curriculum, including its guiding principles and learning outcomes. This year, the division will also begin work on Eastern’s interim (fifth-year) report for our regional accreditor, the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE). Due on August 15, 2025, the report provides “institutions with an opportunity to reflect on progress since the last comprehensive review and to project areas of focus for the next five years leading up to the next comprehensive review.”

University Senate

The schedule of meetings is now available at the University Senate website. The website also provides links to important information central to the functioning of this shared governance body.

The Semester and Year Ahead

Budget, Enrollment, and Residence Occupancy

Although we have not yet fully completed our FY 2024 audit cycle, I am pleased to report that we are on target to end the year with a surplus of $4 million. Eastern’s ability to produce a projected surplus in FY 2024 and a balanced budget for FY 2025 will help us manage the challenges we will face in FY 2026 due to the elimination of the $11 million in COVID-19 related federal and state temporary funding. This funding is reflected in the FY 2025 budget. Together, we will develop strategies that advance our mission while effectively managing our finances. I want to thank the entire university community for your contributions to our relatively strong fiscal position.

Thanks to the excellent work of the admissions team, I am pleased to share the news that our first-year undergraduate enrollment is up by 204 students (an increase of 34% over last year) and our new undergraduate transfer student population is up by 27 students (an increase of 11%). Overall, we have 231 more undergraduates enrolling at Eastern this fall when compared to fall 2023. We are also seeing a positive trend in graduate enrollment. There are now 320 active students across all graduate programs, up from 218 last fall, representing an overall increase of 48%. In addition to the steady growth in the online programs with Bisk, faculty continue to develop innovative offerings for adult learners, corporate partners, school districts, and alumni.

Finally, our housing occupancy is currently at 92% for the fall semester. This is the highest occupancy rate since 2019 and is a full 10% higher than last year. I want to thank Residence Life and Housing and all campus offices that contributed to this very positive outcome.

Leadership Searches

I want to thank Garry Bozylinsky, Ken DeLisa, Carmen Diaz, and Jim Howarth for supporting the university as we undergo transitions in a variety of divisions. We have launched searches for a new Vice President for Finance and Administration and for a new Chief Information Officer. In addition, a search is underway for an Executive Assistant in the President’s Office. I am grateful to search committee members for their valuable service. As you know, Ben Pauley is currently the Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA). I anticipate that we will launch a search for a permanent Provost/VPAA towards the end of the semester. I am also assessing needs in the Division of Institutional Advancement.

Election 2024 and Global Conflict

As we move into the fall, it is important for all of us to be mindful of how national and global events may impact Eastern. As a public liberal arts university, I contend that we have a special responsibility to model civil dialogue, democratic engagement, and to advance understanding of complex, deeply rooted conflict. Our primary concern is for the safety of every member of the university community. In addition, we have an obligation to support the concepts of freedom of thought, inquiry, speech, and lawful assembly. A link to The Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) Guidelines for Freedom of Expression, Protests, and Speakers and Events can now be found by scrolling to the bottom of the university homepage. The document contains information on several other issues linked to this topic.

100 Days of Listening and Learning

This fall, I look forward to meeting with all campus constituencies and stakeholders to learn about Eastern. Following the various conversations and meetings, I will summarize my impressions in a report to the campus. Further details on this process will be communicated in the coming days.

Our Students

It has been a joy to meet our students and to listen to them as they describe Eastern. They love this institution and have not been shy about telling me why. The words that have come up the most are community, care, support, friends, professors, safe, kindness, opportunity, and respect. That is something every member of this community should be proud of.

I wish you the very best for the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year.

Kindest regards,

Karim Ismaili, Ph.D.
President, Eastern Connecticut State University

Dear students, faculty, staff, and friends,

It is a sincere honor to send you this greeting as a proud new member of Eastern. In advance of joining the campus community on August 5th, I want to take this opportunity to thank former Provost William Salka and Vice President LaMar Coleman for their stewardship of the institution during the presidential transition. I also want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to former President Elsa Núñez for being so welcoming and generous with her time.

My wife, Wendy, and I have been truly overwhelmed by the kindness and warm wishes extended to us. We look forward to joining a community that embraces its public mission, is dedicated to serving students from all backgrounds, and has many reasons to be optimistic about the future.

I look forward to meeting you, learning from you, and writing the next chapter of Eastern with all of you. Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Kindest regards,

Karim Ismaili, Ph.D.
President, Eastern Connecticut State University