A LETTER from PRESIDENT DAVID T. MCFADDIN VISION EXCELLENCE IN ENGAGEMENT

At the start of the academic year, Eastern Kentucky University announced a vision for excellence in all that we do and specifically for this year: excellence in engagement.

William Arthur Ward said it best when he said, “Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work.”

If this magazine landed in your hands, you have enough familiarity with EKU to recognize the values stated in this quote as they relate to our university. Throughout generations and for over a century, alumni consistently reference the relationships they formed, the sense of belonging and home, and the kindness of others as what makes their time at EKU especially impactful.

Many who have come through EKU share that their experience resulted in lifelong friendships, such as Gen. James E. Rainey, ’87, featured in this issue of the magazine. Upon earning the distinguished four-star ranking in the Army, half of EKU’s ROTC class of 1987 came to Gen. Rainey’s promotion ceremony in support of their friend and former classmate.

Many EKU alumni also share the meaningfulness of connections with professors, such as Dr. James Kirby Easterling, ’92, also featured, whose relationship with Professor Bertee Adkins inspired his style of teaching and leadership now as director of EKU’s Supply Chain Management program.

Among what makes us most proud, I would be remiss not to mention the devastating, late summer flooding in my home region and the region from which our university bears its name, Eastern Kentucky. When our region, our students, our friends, families and colleagues were hurting, our EKU community responded with help, kindness and compassion. As you’ll read about in this magazine, funds from the Student Assistance Fund for Eastern (SAFE) quickly dispersed to students in need, allowing them to return to campus in pursuit of their hopes and dreams.

Last fall, we welcomed our biggest freshman class since 2016. We continue to engage with students by hosting on-campus concerts featuring well-known artists, such as Waka Flocka

Flame, Tenille Arts and Hunter Hayes, as part of the Exceptional Eastern Experience. We held our biggest homecoming in decades, attracting thousands of alumni for one-night only tours of the iconic Richmond venue, The Family Dog.

We extended our commitment as the School of Opportunity by creating educational pathways alongside some of our state’s community colleges to address shortages of nurses and teachers; we established naming-right agreements with local businesses, including the CG Bank Field at Roy Kidd Stadium and the Baptist Health Arena at Alumni Coliseum; and we continue to form partnerships with corporations to provide quality and affordable educational opportunities for their employees.

We have delivered nothing short on our goal of excellence in engagement. And we won’t stop here. Being involved in our community and developing those crucial partnerships and relationships is what we’re known for, and it’s what we do exceptionally well at Eastern Kentucky University.

I invite you to join us in pursuit of excellence in engagement. Visit campus, reconnect with us on social media and participate in our robust schedule of events offered to the EKU community. In whatever ways you choose to get involved, we welcome you with open arms! Thank you, for being part of what makes EKU so incredibly special.

One Eastern, David T. McFaddin President, Eastern Kentucky University