Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I hope you enjoyed a relaxing and productive summer. As the summer sun fades and autumn beckons, we welcome back our continuing students, introduce ourselves to new students and begin lessons we hope will leave lasting impressions.

This year will be very special because we are celebrating significant milestones in the University’s history. During a 10-year span from 1956 to 1965, University founder Peter Sammartino had the great opportunity to open three Fairleigh Dickinson campuses, culminating with Wroxton College in 1965. Next week, after more than six years of planning and devoted efforts of many talented individuals, we are opening our new campus in Vancouver, Canada. Classes begin Tuesday for a group of mostly international students who are studying in one of two programs: BS in business management or BS in information technology. It will be wonderful to bring this vision to life and to see students enter the doors of our Cambie Street facility. I know you will join me in congratulating all those responsible and in supporting Dean Ian Haslam as he leads the development of the campus.

A major exhibit, “Afghanistan’s Children — The Next Generation,” featuring the work of renowned photographer Steve McCurry, is scheduled in September in Vancouver and will help us commemorate the opening of the campus. Several faculty leaders will accompany me to Vancouver to visit the campus and attend the exhibit opening.

Many of you are aware that the University has been in the “quiet phase” of the most ambitious capital campaign in our history. I am thrilled that our vision and our enhanced reputation have enabled us to raise $27 million for FDU NOW, The Campaign for Fairleigh Dickinson University. Our benefactors have seen great progress and see great potential. This semester we officially shift the campaign into the public phase, and we are marking the milestone with several exciting events, including two on-campus celebrations. These will be held on October 11 at the Metropolitan Campus and October 24 at the College at Florham. Please keep the dates open.

In addition, this semester we are beginning a new era at Silberman College under the leadership of Dean William Moore. We also are welcoming several exceptional new faculty. We are looking forward to a rich complement of activities and events, including the annual Academic Convocation, to be held September 26 at the Metropolitan Campus. And, as usual, we are eagerly anticipating visits by United Nations ambassadors, with diplomats this semester scheduled from Sudan, Syria, Costa Rica and Mexico.

As I said, it promises to be a very memorable year!

Michael Adams