Wednesday, June 3, 8:55 a.m.
Dear Colleagues,
We realize that many of you, like all of us, are feeling overwhelmed by the recent events related to the tragic death of Mr. George Floyd. There is no rational explanation for the injustice we witnessed – there is only hope for a better tomorrow. At Shepherd, we are teaching our students to think critically and act responsibly – because THEY are our future – THEY are the leaders of tomorrow – THEY are our greatest hope for ensuring justice. Most importantly, each of us serves in some capacity as a role model for our students, and I ask that you please stay the course and continue inspiring them – because together, we CAN change the world.
In addition to this national tragedy, we recognize how the Coronavirus has changed our daily lives – we are enduring unprecedented times that will test our humanity and galvanize our resolve. Our intention is to bring our students home to Shepherd’s beautiful campus for the Fall 2020 semester! To do this, Shepherd is working day and night to prepare a safe campus with in-person classes complemented by online options. To accomplish this goal, many of our employees are undertaking a heavier workload – and we are most grateful for their extraordinary dedication. We appreciate that life may return to normal after the COVID-19 vaccine has been distributed and we have the benefit of immunization. There are at least 60 credible vaccines under development that will neutralize COVID-19, and our hope is that the most effective vaccine will be ready for human use by early 2021.
The success of our students is at the core of Shepherd’s mission. We are committed to working through these challenging times and proving that our students can meet their goal of obtaining a college degree. THEY are the next generation of model citizens – and our job is to guide them through this difficult time with courage, compassion and moral decency.
With sincere appreciation for your resilience,
Mary
Mary J.C. Hendrix, Ph.D.
President