This amusing 5-minute video stars Brian Rosenberg, President of Macalester College, a private liberal arts college in Minnesota, USA:
I sent that video’s URL to the head of the university where I work. He has a sense of humor, so might appreciate it, but he’s not the type of performer Rosenberg is.
Our vice-chancellor is known for his great intelligence and his willing to listen to a variety of ideas and opinions. He’s also good at conveying in writing the sincerity that’s obvious when you see him in person.
Here’s an example of an email sent by the vice-chancellor to all staff this week. It could have been simply a yawn-inducing list of names with a brief “thanks everyone” to close. Instead, here are the final few sentences:
“We can all recall the lecturers we found inspiring, and a new generation is about to discover the exaltation created by teachers who bring a story to life, make clear a difficult concept, get to know their students and share their passion for ideas.
“Such students will remember the start of semester in 2010 as that hidden gate in a low wall that leads to a life barely glimpsed until now. Thank you to the staff who have worked so hard to make the campus ready for the influx, to the professional staff and student volunteers who have done so much already to make students welcome through activities and student centres, and to the academics about to begin again the great adventure of learning.”
Enthusiasm, generosity and a reminder of why we’re here. That’s a good way to start the year.
Tags: chancellor, university, learning, macalester.edu
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[...] day at Macalester College, Minnesota, from the viewpoint of Brian Rosenberg, the President of Macalester College – has something of a David Letterman sensibility to [...]
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