Welcome to the start of a new academic year! The first days of the semester always carry a sense of promise. I am reminded of the joy of opening a new notebook or a fresh box of crayons—timeless back-to-school traditions that symbolize imagination, discovery, and possibility.
To our new undergraduate, graduate, transfer, and adult learner students: welcome. You are joining a community that will both challenge and support you—one grounded in inclusivity, innovation, and service, preparing everyday leaders who shape a better world. To our returning students, welcome back. And to our faculty and staff, thank you for the talent, dedication, and passion you bring to advancing our mission. It is inspiring to see our campus once again filled with energy, excitement, and purpose.
This year, Simmons too is harnessing a similar sense of energy and opportunity during this season of reinvention. We are reimagining what a women-centered education looks like for today’s world—integrating new technology, elevating gender-diverse perspectives, and embedding everyday leadership throughout our institution. Reinvention also means embracing innovative learning models like the Simmons Edge and other forward-looking programs that help students rise, thrive, and lead in future-focused careers.
This spirit of reinvention also extends to our physical campus. In just 16 months, the final phase of our One Simmons project will be complete. The new Living and Learning Center will bring together residences, study and collaboration spaces, dining options, and athletic facilities—all designed to create new opportunities for connection and community in ways not previously possible.
Reinvention requires both imagination and courage, and I know our community is ready to meet this moment together. This fall offers many opportunities to engage, from the President’s Picnic and athletics competitions to our upcoming Community Read, which will spark timely conversations about challenges and opportunities in our world today.
As we begin this academic year, let us carry forward a shared spirit of possibility and purpose. Simmons is not simply returning; we are redefining what it means to be a women-centered university in the 21st century. I look forward to working alongside you as we imagine, create, and lead together.
I wish you a rewarding and inspiring semester. Let’s go, Sharks!