My access to my blog changed last week and i have only just now tried out my new logon. Sorry for the gap in communications from me.
To bring you up to date, it's Graduation Week and my favorite time of the year. At our commencement ceremonies we celebrate the handiwork of this university -- our graduates. We will congratulate them and their families at two events in Hattiesburg on Friday and one on the coast on Saturday. They will leave us with our best wishes, our respect and our earnest plea for them to stay in touch.
This is also banquet season for presidents. I have enjoyed a number of end-of-year events, especially last night's Southern Miss Orchestra appreciation dinner. As I dined with the oldest orchestra in Mississippi, founded not long after the start of the university itself, it was wonderful to recognize the many achievements of the countless students who have been at its heart over 87 years.