“A world of possibilities awaits you. Keep turning the page.” — Oprah Winfrey
Dear Community of Scholars:
This is the moment for which we have spent weeks envisioning, preparing, and praying – Welcome to the 2022 Fall Semester!
When you awoke today, I hope you were full of excitement and anticipation about the First Day of Classes. Summer break is always a welcomed respite, but it is time now to begin a new chapter in your academic journey! On the heels of the conclusion of the S.T.A.R.T. Summer Bridge Program (Theta Cohort), Panther Camp, and our New Beginnings Ceremony, new and transfer students have already begun to write the opening chapters of their Panther Experience. Meanwhile, our returning students are hopefully eager to continue and finish what they have started!
No matter where you are in your story – the beginning, middle, or nearing completion – we are grateful that Philander Smith College is the setting. This is a place of enormous possibilities for your scholarship, social, personal, and spiritual development. And just as you are brimming with enthusiasm for a new semester, our dedicated faculty and devoted staff are, as well. In advance, we thank them for the provisions they have made for this fresh start, for being filled with the immense power of a positive spirit, and for their ongoing commitment to serving our scholars with distinction and pride.
Certainly, the last two years have been heavy as we have navigated a public health crisis. While some of the restrictions of the pandemic have loosened, we remain in a posture of safeguarding your wellness. So please be sure to adhere to our COVID-19 protocols of testing, vaccinations and boosters, coupled with proper hygiene and a cleaning regimen. As the CDC continually updates its guidance and gains insight into other emerging threats to our health, we pledge to share information that is essential to keeping our community well.
It is no coincidence that Divine Providence has guided you where you matter, you are wanted, and you belong. So, as we celebrate the 145th Anniversary of Philander Smith College, know that you have a special place in the institution’s story, along with a canvas of great potential and endless possibilities upon which to write your destiny.
Let’s make this semester a rewarding chapter!
Sincerely,
Roderick L. Smothers, Sr., Ph.D.
President and CEO
