With Gratitude and Pride

June 29, 2012

Members of the Rutgers Community,

Today I conclude my time as president of Rutgers. For me it is a proud but also an emotional moment because for a decade I have been so deeply engaged with you on goals we have shared for Rutgers. You have inspired me with your advocacy—in word and deed—for this university and its future.

It was the honor of my lifetime to be named president 10 years ago, and I leave this position with an even deeper belief in the mission of Rutgers as the State University of New Jersey and as one of the world’s finest public research universities. I take ever-growing pride in the wonderful diversity and energy of our students, the intellectual achievements of our faculty, the dedication and excellence of our staff,
and the many ways in which our alumni are contributing to society. A listing of our shared accomplishments can be found at news.rutgers.edu/fact-sheets/2012/major-accomplishment-20120629.

I am excited to be returning to the remarkable faculty of this university. Joan and Katie and I will make our home in New Brunswick, and after a sabbatical, I will be active in teaching and research and will seek opportunities to be as helpful to the university as possible.

Thank you for all the kindness you have shown me and my family, and, more important, for all the efforts you put forth on behalf of this university every day. Thanks to you, Rutgers is a university of increasing academic excellence and world-changing discoveries, of  opportunity and diversity and passion—a source of pride for us all and for the entire state.

Thank you for the privilege of being this great university’s president, and thanks for all you do for Rutgers!

Sincerely yours,

Richard L. McCormick
President