 Greetings! It's wonderful and especially meaningful to welcome you to spring semester 2021, a time of new beginnings and exciting opportunities. For those students, faculty and staff who have recently joined the University of Vermont, I offer a special welcome. We're delighted to have you with us and look forward to the many experiences, perspectives and achievements you will bring to our community. The start of the semester is always energizing, friends reconnecting after time apart, students finding their way as they acclimate to new surroundings and new routines, and the inspiration that comes with discovery, whether it's online or in person. And while this time is always special, it's perhaps more precious now than ever before. We've endured much to get to this point. Yet, because of our hard work and our ability to rely on one another, here we are ready to start a new semester and continue our educational mission. We must protect and honor this precious gift by acting wisely. Let me urge each of you to maintain the safety procedures that have served us so well. New strains of COVID-19 are emerging that appear to make it even more transmissible. Infections are high across the nation. Throughout Vermont, including here in Burlington, they are higher now than they were in the fall. And the cold weather brings additional challenges. So please stay the course. Take advantage of our outdoor trails and ice rink, our fire pits and heated tents. Staying safe can still be fun and we need to be more vigilant than we were before. To our students in particular, you have won the respect of the skeptics who doubted your commitment to following safety precautions and feared you would put our community at risk. But you followed the science and the recommended guidelines. You masked up, you tested and tested and tested and you observed social distancing and other measures. And because of that, our numbers remain below those in the broader community and among the best in the nation. We completed our fall semesters planned and you were able to continue your educational journey. We can do this again. Just over a week ago on Inauguration Day, I made note of how grateful I am to work in higher education and how proud I am to be a member of the University of Vermont community. It's a privilege to play a part in the education of inquisitive minds and the development of innovative solutions. Education and understanding will lead us through this pandemic and other challenges yet to come. Our work together will help with much needed healing inform ethical decision making, establish critical supply chains and yes, enable us to develop and administer vaccines and other life-saving technologies. So, while I'm clear-eyed about the inevitable challenges ahead, I know that the strength of our UVM community will help us conquer them together. I wish you all a safe, successful and enjoyable spring semester.