Letter from MHU President – June 2018

June 14, 2018

Terry and I have been deeply moved by the hospitality and kindness of the Mars Hill University community during our recent move to Mars Hill. Thank you to everyone who has sent notes, stopped by the office, and brought us brownies and pastries!

As I write, I am beginning my 9th day at Mars Hill. I have been able to visit many of the offices on campus and begin to connect with our teammates. I already have spent one Saturday greeting 65 new Mars Hill families on campus, been able to attend the South Atlantic Conference annual meetings in Greenville, and driven to the Appalachian College Association in Harrogate, Tennessee. Terry and I are beginning to get out into the Mars Hill community to meet our new neighbors, business owners, and local leaders.

During these early days we have been able to hire a new lacrosse coach who comes to us with multiple national championships acquired during his previous playing and coaching assignments. We have an ongoing national search for a provost for the university, and will select finalists for the position this week. We hosted Blue Ridge Old-Time Music Week last week, which brought great joy to campus, and we have seen the relaunch of SART with a new spectacular and high quality production on campus.

We are approximately 80 days away from the start of the fall semester. That brings SAC football and many other fall sports, and, of course, the students returning to campus. I cannot wait to meet them!

Thank you for this opportunity to become a part of the Mars Hill community. Thank you for your confidence in me and my family. It has been invigorating and inspiring to be able to represent the university in these early days. We are going to work hard to continue the great momentum created at Mars Hill by all of those who have paved the way ahead of us. The future is extremely bright for Mars Hill University.