September 15, 2015

Dear University of Miami Community,

Click above to view highlights from Thursday night’s Town Hall or click here for complete webcast.

In my letter on August 16, I shared both my enthusiasm for becoming the University of Miami’s sixth president and my hopes for learning more about this vibrant institution. In the weeks since, my passion for the U has only deepened as I’ve learned more about our history and experienced the extraordinary spirit of this special community.

The University is poised to enter its second century. As we approach that milestone, we have an opportunity to create a collective vision for the role we want to play in the region, the country, and the world. At my first Town Hall meeting this past Thursday, I outlined the main elements of the “Roadmap to Our New Century.”

The Town Hall kicked off the first step on the roadmap—an ambitious University-wide listening exercise. Over the next 100 days I want to hear your ideas, your dreams, and your concerns, so we can begin a constructive and forward-looking dialogue on the attributes of the University of Miami of 2025. We have launched an online forum at miami.edu/listen to gather your vital input. I will also visit all of our campuses to engage with faculty, staff, and students, and meet with trustees, alumni, friends, and community partners to listen to their ideas.

It is my true conviction that by bringing together the collective wisdom of the University of Miami community, we can shape an extraordinary vision for the future. The listening exercise will set the stage for my formal inauguration on January 29, 2016, where I hope to synthesize and articulate your insights and aspirations.

More than ever, the world needs the spirit, talent, knowledge, and strength that are hallmarks of our University. I invite you to share your voice in shaping our future at miami.edu/listen.

Julio Frenk