Message from the Dean - October 2018

Dear CICS Community, 

Mid-terms are approaching, paper and grant deadlines are looming, and everyone seems to have come down with a cold. Anecdotal evidence suggests that we're all feeling a little overloaded. My message to you as we enter the height of the semester is..."Breathe!" Please be sure to take some time to care for yourselves -- go for a hike, have coffee with a friend or colleague, or read a book. I just finished Tommy Orange's "There, There" about a pow-wow in Oakland, CA; next up is "An American Marriage" by Tayari Jones.

Also, in light of recent troubling events on campus, I'd like to echo the Chancellor's message from Sept. 27 and reiterate our college's commitment to building an inclusive community. If you add one more thing to your to-do list, I hope that it's to make a point to meet someone who is different from you this semester. Our college, UMass Amherst, and our field will only continue to thrive if we incorporate the ideas and perspectives of people from all backgrounds.

Laura Haas
Dean, CICS