It is with great pride — and true appreciation — that we celebrate the exceptional contributions our community of faculty, staff, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate and undergraduate students has made to the Eberly College of Science this year.
2020 has been extraordinary, to say the least. Things have been difficult, and time a precious resource. Work and personal lives have become intricately entangled, and many of us have found ourselves working at home with those we are caring for.
More than ever, you have leaned on and supported each other to ensure that our educational and research enterprise continues to be world class. And in the face of enormous uncertainty, fear, and frustration, you have all stepped up to the challenge — creatively solving problems, working to innovate and implement change, and making our students and colleagues feel supported and heard.
In all of you, our college is fortunate to have exceptional leaders, mentors, educators, and advocates who have enabled the transition of our offices online and our classrooms to remote and hybrid learning environments, made scientific breakthroughs possible by supporting a safe return to on-campus research, and improved the climate of our college even from your homes.
You have worked tirelessly to connect with your students, found innovative ways to work with digital technologies, and exhibited boundless energy, enthusiasm and focus on your students wellbeing. You have contributed in so many ways that we can and cannot see.
With compassion and empathy, you have supported those in need: raising money for the Eberly Future Fund, to provide our students with emergency financial support; giving to the University's United Way campaign and the Lion’s Pantry; championing our college’s Giving Tuesday campaign to raise funds for our underrepresented students; and in a big step forward for equity and inclusion of those in our LGBTQ+ community, launching the Rainbow Science Network.
Together, you have demonstrated the positive impact of science — guiding the University's and community's response to this pandemic, pivoting to doing new and important research to facilitate our nation’s ability to push back against the tide of COVID-19, translating discoveries into positive action for the common good.
To each and every one of you, for truly going above and beyond this year — THANK YOU!
—The deans and department heads of the Eberly College of Science