Dear Drew students,
Welcome to the spring 2024 semester!
Last semester was my first at Drew, and what a whirlwind it was—getting to know the wonderful people who make up our campus community, becoming familiar with our beautiful campus, and seeing first-hand the amazing things that Drew has to offer our students.
From all of the campus gatherings, athletics events, meetings, and getting out in the world to meet the worldwide Drew community, I have learned so much about and feel inspired by what makes Drew special. I begin my second semester even more excited for and confident in Drew’s future.
I would be remiss to not address a significant challenge that impacted us all during the fall that continues to have ramifications on college campuses across the world—the ongoing Israel/Gaza conflict. Navigating such a painful, complex, and difficult issue, including the many, varied personal connections to it among our community, remains a top priority for me and Drew’s administration. This work will continue this semester to ensure our students, faculty, and staff all feel heard and respected in an environment that works to ensure safety, and that our University policies are followed and enforced.
As we enter a new year and new semester, I hope we are able to use the positive momentum Drew experienced in 2023 as a launching pad toward even better and brighter things.
I am emboldened by the way national publications like The Princeton Review, U.S. News, and Washington Monthly skyrocketed our school up their rankings, while others lauded our academic and study abroad programs. I am proud of our alums making their mark, from starting their own theater company to being elected to the New York Baseball Hall of Fame to earning prestigious appointments. I see all three schools hosting timely events, making history, forging meaningful partnerships, engaging with alums, and branching outward. I am impressed with the amazing things being done in and out of the classroom, from events like Bear Den to partnerships with groundbreaking STEM projects, to the successes and engagement of clubs like The Fund and The Sociology Club. Watching you all support and cheer each other on—in the Kean Blackbox Theater, on the basketball court, the swimming pool deck, or the indoor track, on the stage of the Concert Hall, or across campus—brings me joy and reminds me how fortunate my family and I are to be part of this community.
We have much to be excited for as a community, and I am looking forward to continuing our journeys together. I wish you all a strong start to the spring 2024 semester.
Sincerely,
Hilary L. Link, PhD
President
