A Message From Alex Miller, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
To: W&L Undergraduate and Law Students
From: Alex Miller, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Dear W&L Students,
I hope this note finds you all well and excelling this term/semester. Seeing our community come together over the past few months has been great. It’s been particularly special connecting with many of you on campus. I am genuinely impressed by your involvement and ambition. I’ve had many great experiences, including a fantastic time traveling with the football team to San Antonio and attending and speaking at various events and performances. I look forward to many more opportunities to engage with the W&L community.
Speaking of engagement, late last week, the Division of Student Affairs launched the W&L Spirit Squad, an initiative intended to increase the energy and enthusiasm at W&L sporting events. Our staff handed out more than 300 t-shirts and other merchandise at the Commons, and it was wonderful to see so many students cheering on their classmates at athletic events throughout the weekend. Keep an eye out for additional sponsored spirit days throughout the year to support our dedicated teams and athletes!
As mentioned in my September message to you, I am excited to share the priorities of the Division of Student Affairs. During this academic year, Student Affairs will:
- Partner with the Provost’s Office and faculty to integrate the co-curricular and curricular lives of our students.
- Deepen our focus on creating a culture of holistic well-being for our students and colleagues that addresses mental health, physical health, personal development and social connections.
- Identify ways to increase student representation in matters related to their experience.
- Prepare for and respond proactively to emerging campus issues.
- Collect and utilize data to improve our infrastructure, programs and services to more effectively serve students.
These priorities will help Student Affairs further cultivate an inclusive campus experience that facilitates student engagement, intellectual curiosity, a sense of belonging and personal exploration.
As we approach Winter Break, I am reminded of two life lessons I learned as a child growing up in Chicago: to be thankful for what you have and always show gratitude to others. Being thankful is important, but showing others gratitude is even more important and personally fulfilling. Thank you for all the ways you have built community at W&L.
All My Best,
Dean Miller
Alexander R. Miller Ed.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Washington and Lee University
