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Editor |
As I look back
over almost 22 years as President, a number of things
strike me as significant, and I want to share some of
them with you. First, in terms of fundamental purpose and
mission, Millsaps today is very much like it was in 1978.
Millsaps was then and is now focused on the development
of mature citizens with the intellectual capacities,
ethical principles, and sense of responsibility that are
needed for leadership in all sectors of society. There
have been challenges, fads, and fancies in the way
society has viewed higher education, but the things that
make Millsaps College what it is, the things that are
worth preserving, have remained essentially the same. The
Millsaps Experience continues to be unique and profound,
and that is something of which we should all be proud. Second, the Millsaps story, once only a statewide story of success, became a regional one, and now has become a truly national one. Clearly, success breeds success, breeds success.... and Millsaps has been very successful in its endeavors over the years. People, be they students or faculty or donors, like to invest in a winner. Third, the history of Millsaps is a continuum. Like a liberal arts education, it has a beginning, but no end. As we grapple with day-to-day challenges, it is easy to forget this. In the years ahead, all of our nation’s best liberal arts colleges will be tested. Millsaps is ready. With an outstanding faculty, a talented and dedicated staff, gifted students, a committed board of trustees, loyal support from alumni, excellent and improving facilities, steadily increasing financial resources, a growing reputation for excellence, and a young, energetic, and talented new president soon to take charge, Millsaps can look to the future with pride and optimism. Millsaps College is a wonderful, special place. To have served as its ninth president for more than two decades, to be part of its history, is an honor and a privilege. Leading a college such as Millsaps is an all-consuming task, but it is a rewarding opportunity – if, at times, a daunting one. I want to thank you for the unwavering support I have received through the years. So many of you have generously given the College your time, energy, and resources. I am blessed by all of you, and am honored to have served with you. On July 1, Millsaps will have a new president with a matching youthfulness and fresh vision.I pledge full cooperation to Dr. Frances Lucas-Tauchar and her Administration during and following the transition. I hope I can be of service to Millsaps for many years to come. So, this is not a goodbye. It is simply a normal, logical, and appropriate transition for Millsaps, as well as for me personally. As I have told many of you, there has never been a day in 22 years that I did not wake up looking forward to working for Millsaps College. Because of this, serving Millsaps has never been “work,” rather it has been one of the greatest pleasures in my life. I am grateful for the experience. George M. Harmon President, Millsaps College PAGE 1 OF 1 | NEXT ARTICLE |