Our Important Work Continues This Summer

Good afternoon,

In a few weeks, I’m looking forward to seeing our community spring back to full strength as we welcome the majority of our student population for the start of a new academic year. And while campus is a bit quieter during the summer months, the hum of our important work never stops.

In July, I had the opportunity to see some of that work in action firsthand. We welcomed thousands of new students for orientation, continued our teaching mission through summer sessions, endured the North Carolina heat with facilities improvement projects, conducted vital research and ensured that the work we do here in Raleigh has positive ripple effects throughout our state.

I also had the pleasure of accompanying Dean Garey Fox and others from our College of Agriculture and Life Sciences on visits to several of our state Extension sites. NC State Extension’s presence in each of our state’s counties serves as an important bridge between the research that we conduct and the daily life of every North Carolinian. On each of my visits, I enjoyed learning more about the ways we’re putting science into action, delivering practical solutions to our communities.

As I shared in my message to you last month, the work that you’re doing provides tangible value. CNBC recently recognized North Carolina as the Top State for Business in America, a ranking driven by many factors, including excellence in research and a highly qualified workforce. And ADP Research recently named Raleigh the top city in the country for recent college graduates to land a job.

These rankings and recognition don’t just happen by chance. They’re made possible in no small part by your work, your commitment to learning and thinking boldly, and your dedication to our mission. As we greet the month of August, I hope you’ll take that pride in the work that you do — and the real impact it makes — with you into this next academic year.

Go Pack!

Kevin Howell
Chancellor