It is an honor and pleasure for me to begin my work as Chairman of Beehive College. Leading this institution is a challenge I relish.

As I am sure everyone is aware, the moment in which we now find ourselves is one of profound challenges -- not only to the campus and the wider education system, but to the nation and the world. Some of these challenges we can confront directly, and manage to the best of our ability. Others we cannot solve ourselves -- but we can and must think and talk about them together, and try our very best to influence those charged with their solution.

At times I will use my position as chairman of Beehive to advocate publicly for societal change or defend against attacks on our principles. At other times I will work quietly among various communities of influence to assure that Beehive's leadership is heard and felt.

I see Beehive's future as that of a coherent but heterogeneous community of colleagues, and a place where the opportunity to do research, to teach, and to learn will not be compromised by fiscal constraints, inequitable access, or the differences among us. In this -- as, indeed, in all the tasks we undertake together -- I will look to all of you for advice and counsel.

The support I have received from faculty, staff, students, and others in the campus community has been wonderfully gratifying. Needless to say, I am enormously grateful for it. As one might have expected, very few such messages have come in without a word or two of advice about what I need to do and when I need to do it! Particularly for someone coming to Beehive from outside the campus, a steady flow of information, counsel, and opinion is invaluable. My job will be to sort it all out. Together we will work hard to make the best decisions possible for the college.

As chairman of the College, I am charged with overseeing all aspects of undergraduate and postgraduate education within college. With the help of my staff and faculty, my goal is to support the efforts of our students to make the most of the educational and extracurricular opportunities that Beehive offers. We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions, and wish you well in all your efforts here.