In This Issue: Spring 2023
I am excited to present to you this edition of the UofM Magazine, recapping all the excitement from the past few months and previewing a promising future to come at our University.
In March, we unveiled Ascend, our new strategic plan that will serve as the road map in navigating our path through the next five years. I want to thank the many constituents who played a pivotal role in helping form this historic plan, our first as a nationally recognized Carnegie R1 institution.
Consisting of seven primary goals along with a mission, vision and principles, Ascend lays the foundation to help our University reach its full potential as a nationally recognized and respected institution. It focuses on producing outcomes, providing access, creating a holistic student experience, broadening our national reach, enhancing campus safety and security, and strengthening the research enterprise.
The opening of the Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center on Central Avenue at the north end of campus gave us a reason for celebration in February. This wonderful, state-of-the-art facility will serve as the perfect home for our talented music students for generations to come. We are forever grateful to the Scheidt family and many other dedicated supporters who took the center from a dream to a reality.
Our campus recently honored Dr. Charles Crawford, an esteemed history professor who has dedicated 60 years to this University. Dr. Crawford is the historical reference for this institution, and his commitment to the students and the preservation of history over six decades is truly remarkable.
In athletics, we are incredibly proud to have former Tiger football star running back DeAngelo Williams elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. His accomplishments as a player and representative of our University are outstanding, and this honor is very deserved. We also celebrate our men’s basketball team for capturing the American Athletic Conference Championship, and both our men’s and women’s soccer teams for advancing to the NCAA Tournament.
I hope you enjoy these stories and more in this edition of the UofM Magazine.
Thank you all for your continued support!
GO TIGERS GO!
Bill Hardgrave
President