Yesterday afternoon I had the opportunity to participate in a favorite Southern Miss tradition: the new faculty reception at the President's Home. While fewer in number than in recent years (we were able to complete eight tenure track hires this year, which is down significantly from the average of 25 or so which we had been hiring) our new colleagues are as accomplished, engaging, and prepared as any we've seen. They range from freshly-minted Ph.D.'s to more experienced faculty who have chosen to move to USM for the opportunity to pursue their specialty in a more supportive environment. This morning, all of our new faculty participated in orientation activities, and then a smaller number joined me for a casual lunch. I'm pleased to welcome them to campus and to the start of the new academic year.
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