![\"President](\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Screen-Shot-2021-12-16-at-8.57.16-AM.png\")
<\/a>\n- \n
- Spending time with our faculty before both ceremonies to chat and thank them for all they have done in helping our students reach this moment.<\/li>\n
- Seeing so many proud parents and friends in person celebrating the success of their students.<\/li>\n
- Sharing the stage with our provost, deans, regents, alumni leaders and representatives of the Graduate Student Government, ASNAU, the Staff Advisory Council and the Faculty Senate.<\/li>\n
- Hearing the words of our distinguished faculty speaker, Honors College Dean Kevin Gustafson<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
- Sharing in the smiles and cheers as so many students walked the stage, putting an exclamation point on their collegiate experience.
![\"President](\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Screen-Shot-2021-12-16-at-8.56.53-AM.png\")
<\/a><\/li>\n- And having the opportunity for symmetrical selfies<\/a> with our graduates on this momentous occasion in the Skydome!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- As I reflect on this wonderful event, sincere thanks are in order to countless individuals in our community, including:All of our faculty and staff whose work every day contributes to the success of our students.\n
- \n
- The University Events and Communications teams who spearheaded this commencement\u2014our first in-person ceremony in two years\u2014to make it a memorable experience for our students and their loved ones.<\/li>\n
- The dedicated teams in Facilities Services and Custodial\u2014who managed the extra wrinkle of morning snow!\u2014and made our campus beautiful and welcoming.<\/li>\n
- The NAU Police Department for managing our many campus visitors.<\/li>\n
- And finally, to the many, many volunteers who stepped away from their desks to make the event a warm and vibrant success.
![\"President](\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Screen-Shot-2021-12-16-at-8.57.05-AM.png\")
<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n- Commencement is a tough act to follow! Over the last few days, I have met with our leadership team to debrief on our work this fall and chart the path ahead for the spring.<\/li>\n
- I also spent time visiting with the Institute for Tribal and Environmental Professionals<\/a> at their fall retreat\u2014sharing my experiences and hearing about their crucial priorities and impactful work.<\/li>\n
- I met with Flagstaff City Councilmember Adam Shimoni<\/a> to hear about his experience and priorities as a leader in our community and discuss important intersections in our work, particularly in the area of sustainability.<\/li>\n
- With my entire leadership team, we reviewed recommendations from the New NAU Workplace Committee. I look forward to sharing a robust update on this work in early 2022.<\/li>\n
- I joined our Climate Action Plan steering committee<\/a> to hear about their work and recommendations and to prepare our charge for the work ahead on sustainability and carbon neutrality\u2014areas that are priorities for our university and where I am committed that we will lead the way.<\/li>\n
- I close the week with a few media interviews, celebratory events and final calls with partners, elected officials, and stakeholders who are invested in NAU\u2019s success and then will travel home to Puerto Rico for a few days with family and friends during which I look forward to spending some time reflecting, reenergizing, and planning for the future before us (and visiting Cayo Enrique<\/a>, eating some mofongo<\/a>, drinking some coquito<\/a>, and listening to Bad Bunny<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Thank you again, Lumberjacks, for a wonderful semester. I wish you all the best and look forward to more great work in the New Year!<\/p>\n
Sincerely,<\/p>\n
JL<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
- Sharing in the smiles and cheers as so many students walked the stage, putting an exclamation point on their collegiate experience.