Hello!
As I begin my work as Nazareth College’s 10th president, I am pleased to introduce myself to my new Pittsford neighbors. My husband, Bill, our two daughters, Martha and Sophie, and I are enjoying getting to know our new hometown and we are grateful for the warm welcome.
I value the close relationship between Nazareth College and Pittsford - a relationship that is nearly a century deep. As an institution founded in 1924 on the heels of the Pandemic of 1918, we have a foundational belief in the positive impact of neighbor-to-neighbor care and empowerment. It is this commitment that guided Nazareth College in playing such a pivotal role in lifting and shaping the Rochester community nearly 100 years ago. In my many years in higher education, I have been an active proponent of the importance of place and community in our students’ learning experience. Our students bring a unified spirit of responsibility, caring, and purpose as they join our shared community of Pittsford. And our Pittsford and surrounding communities - in which our students live, learn, work and serve - have significant influence and impact on our students’ college experience and preparation for future impact and success.
We find ourselves now at a time when our sense of community is challenged, and our need for community is heightened. With the coronavirus pandemic, heightened awareness of and responsibility for antiracism and other affronts to humanity, and an economic roller coaster, we value anew our human connections and extend care to one another.
Given our vital mission, the Nazareth community has been rallying for months to reimagine our students’ full college experience given the new conditions in which we live. We are preparing for an August 17 start of the new semester with significant protocols in place for the safety of students, faculty, staff, and our local community, and with renewal of our deep commitment to be an agent of social justice and inclusion.
We recently posted online Our Way Forward, a comprehensive program for safety and health in response to COVID-19.
Our plans call for shared responsibility and focus on safety and health so that we can come together to accomplish our mission—to provide an environment for learning and growth so that each and every Nazareth student can reach their full potential, ready to contribute to the world with purpose. Our plans meet and exceed the guidelines and requirements set forth by the Governor and County. We are working closely with the Monroe County Department of Health and other public health experts.
We are all fortunate to live in an area with a low COVID-19 positivity rate. And I am especially grateful for the widespread health-protective behaviors I have witnessed in our area - a noticeable contrast to other areas. The full Nazareth community joins with you in our protective behaviors. The welcome my husband and our two daughters have received and the goodwill and support our students have here in Pittsford is just so heartwarming. We feel fortunate to be living here, and that Nazareth is part of this very special community.
With commitment and gratitude,
Dr. Beth Paul
President, Nazareth College
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