Dean Sharon Walker
Welcome back, Dragoneers!
Entrepreneur and author on the power of ambition—which I know you all have!—Jim Rohn wrote, "you must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of." As we enter this new fall season, I am pleased to share that your Drexel Engineering faculty and staff have taken charge in ensuring the most seamless experience for our entire community, and we are excited for your return.
While the tenor of much correspondence you've received since the spring has focused on rapid responses to changing circumstances, as a result of the dedication and hard work of our college community we have transitioned from reactive mode to proactive mode, as you'll see in this latest newsletter edition. Your stories and experiences, along with state and University guidance, have informed our latest approaches to course delivery, advising and virtual event planning so that "new normal" we hear so much about is less new by the day.
Yes, our environment will continue to change, and it is true we must remain adaptable. Yet during a pandemic or not, as engineers it is our DNA to have a forward-thinking mindset. We live and work in the present, but we are always planning for the future. On that note, I invite you to save the date for our virtual State of the College on Wednesday, October 7, at 4 p.m., to learn more about what the future holds for Drexel Engineering.
In the meantime, I hope you will enter this season not only with that Dragoneer ambition we know so well, but also with self-reflection. As we have reflected as a college—incorporating features into our courses to enhance your learning experience and planning for virtual academic and non-academic activities to keep your connections to each other and to our faculty and staff—think about what you bring to the table, and how you can make the most of this experience for yourself, and alongside your peers and colleagues. Because while we cannot change the circumstances or the season, we can indeed change our own response.
Dean Sharon Walker
p.s. Remember to bookmark the Drexel Engineering Return to Campus website for ongoing details regarding our latest operations.