PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Dear Fellow Alumni and Friends, Delta State University cares! That maxim is truer today than ever before. But it has always been the case. Caring is in this university’s DNA. Our caring qualities have been demonstrated splendidly throughout the years—during war times and the depression era, and through natural disasters such as tornados, hurricanes, floods, and ice storms. Caring is evidenced in a huge way in the everyday interaction between our students and the faculty and staff who teach and support them on their college journeys. Those of us who are Statesmen alumni often recall with great fondness that extra-mile effort, welcoming smile and kind word, supportive advice, and career and life counseling we were fortunate to receive from a caring faculty or staff member. That caring quality alone is one of the signature features that has stood the test of time, made us feel truly a part of the “Delta State family,” and attracted generation after generation of new students to this special place—Delta State University. And the beat goes on. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early March, almost everything about the way we do business on campus changed—except carrying on the academic mission and caring! As I write this message to our loyal alumni, supporters, and friends, we are still grappling with the spread and effect of this dreaded disease. From day one of our response on campus, the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff have been our top priority. We are doing everything possible to ensure the health of our students, while also continuing to support their coursework and academic progress through online teaching during the spring and summer terms. There have been challenges to both priority goals, but our engaged and caring faculty and staff have risen to the occasion to bring success to our mission on both fronts. You will find a partial listing of the university’s responses to the pandemic in the pages that follow. When the cloud of this pandemic lifts, and we can return to some semblance of normalcy on campus, the wonderful caring feature of this university will, once again, have come through loud and clear. In this issue, you will find special testaments to Delta State’s caring reputation. Highlighted are the university’s new Statesmen Shelf food pantry and the 15th annual Margaret Tullos Field Symposium in Social Work—excellent examples of Delta State’s caring culture. I know you will enjoy reading about the front-line work of a recent alumna of our nursing program, reflections of two Statesmen alumni who are college presidents, the “giving back” of one of Delta State’s most beloved emeritus professors, the dedication and inspiration of a spot-lighted social work student, and the generous financial support of a successful businessman alumnus—all of whom are terrific Delta State caregivers in their own right. As we navigate these challenging times, we continue to blend our caring with a fervent hope for better times. The university is planning for a changing higher education landscape as a result of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is quite likely that we will face financial and enrollment challenges like we have never seen before. Now, more than ever, we need your support. Please actively recruit, recommend, and encourage potential students for us. And, likewise, please consider a significant financial gift to your beloved university. Your gift will be a wise investment, a demonstration of your caring, and a fitting Delta State legacy for you. Very best regards,
William N. LaForge ’72 President
Follow President LaForge on social media, including his new series, Statesmen Insider! Visit deltastate.edu/president for more info. 2 • Delta State Magazine • Winter/Spring 2020
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