September 4, 2026

Greetings Staff and Faculty of the College of Arts & Sciences,

 

It’s good to see everyone back on campus and the College of Arts & Sciences coming to life for a new academic year. I hope you had a chance to recharge over the summer and are ready for the year ahead.

 

One of the highlights of my summer has been the opportunity to travel on behalf of the College and connect with people who share our commitment to the future of A&S. I’ve come away from these conversations with new ideas and valuable connections that will help strengthen the College and support our students, staff, and faculty.

 

At the end of last week, we welcomed new faculty and their families to the College of A&S with a dinner at the Train Depot. New faculty, department heads, members of the Dean’s Office, and A&S Board of Visitors members gathered for an evening of introductions, conversation, and great food before kicking off the new academic year. It was a wonderful way to celebrate the start of another year together.

 

Take a look at our new College Report. It highlights some facts and figures about the college. We intend to produce one of these each year to communicate to our external stakeholders the value A&S has for the state, region, and nation.

 

We have a lot of exciting things planned for the fall, with plenty of opportunities to gather and connect across the College. And, of course, football is back this weekend — hopefully, we’ll soon be celebrating a victory over CSU. 

 

There is a sense of optimism and excitement for UW and our College that is invigorating. I look forward to seeing many of you around campus and at events throughout the semester. Thank you for all that you do to support our students and the College of A&S as a whole. Here’s to a great year ahead!

 

Go Pokes!

 

J. Scott Turpen