A Catalyst for Constructive Change
As I've interacted with faculty and staff over the last several months, it seemed that many people expected me to come in and quickly announce "The Big Initiative" — the thing that would change your world. That’s just not my style; I believe my role is to be a catalyst for constructive change. Change that is enduring needs to build on the existing foundations and strengths of the institution.
While the ambitions for this university are dramatic, they do not necessitate dramatic disruptions at every turn. I believe it is important for new leaders to first take time to understand their institutions, the issues they are facing, and the people who know them best — the faculty and staff. At the end of the day, I must make some hard choices to move UNLV forward, but I need your input to make wise decisions.
I began learning about UNLV by visiting campus departments and by regularly meeting with Faculty Senate leaders. Now, with the executive leadership team taking shape, the next step will be to engage the campus broadly through the strategic planning process. That process will define the major initiatives and the steps, large and small, to get us to our goals. In the coming months, you will learn more about your important role in that planning process.
And it is not only about planning — there are many areas where we already know what actions we must take. We already are moving forward aggressively on these items.
You also will hear more details about the direction UNLV is heading during the inaugural week activities scheduled at the end of this month. I am really looking forward to the inauguration; it’s an event that is as much about you as it is about me. It will bring us together as a campus to launch UNLV’s 50th anniversary and incorporate some already-established traditions — including recognition ceremonies for faculty, staff, and students. Most important, it is an opportunity to celebrate the foundation that UNLV has built and to advance our vision for an even greater enterprise in the future.
David Ashley | UNLV President