Letter from the President

The University of Idaho is a special place. With the hardwood floors of Memorial Gym as my childhood playground, I grew up with a firsthand appreciation for Vandal excellence. Earning a degree at this institution in 1984 proved to be a life-changing experience for me; like so many alumni, I just wouldn’t be who I am today without this university.

It has been the honor of a lifetime to return to campus as president. I’ve spent time in Moscow and traveled to meet with people in communities, organizations and industries across Idaho over the past several months.

I’ve been connecting with our faculty, the drivers of our academic and scholarly excellence, as well as our students and our staff. It has also been a highlight to engage with our alumni, whose passion and pride set the standard and motivate us to be our best.

As we look to elevate our institution, I’ve asked our community to come together on progress toward three key priorities: supporting student success, ensuring excellence across our research and scholarship and championing the excellence found at this university.

I've hired two Vandals to help achieve these goals. Chandra Zenner Ford, based in Boise, rejoins U of I to manage the progress of the working groups assembled to address our priorities and challenges. Toni Broyles comes back to U of I to lead stakeholder engagement with the priority being the Idaho State Board of Education.

This issue of Here We Have Idaho looks at the intersection of all three priorities, focusing on opportunities for students made possible — directly and indirectly — by donor generosity. I hope you’ll be struck, as I have been, by the exciting things our students are accomplishing.

Whether they are learning computer science in Coeur d’Alene, studying criminal justice in London or understanding bighorn sheep habitat at the Taylor Wilderness Research Station, our students are benefitting from our research university strengths with hands-on learning and faculty mentorship.

The generosity of our Vandal friends and family makes the difference for these students.

This year we’ve rolled out our Vandal Promise campaign to offer additional need-based aid to well-qualified students. That commitment will help more students realize their dreams as members of our brave and bold Vandal Family. We can also bolster our academic programs and scholarly initiatives to ensure we deliver on our mission as a great research university. With that combination of affordability and excellence, U of I will continue to be one of the outstanding values in higher education — in Idaho and anywhere.

Thank you for believing in this institution. If you’re reading this magazine, chances are you are proud of our history and achievements. The work showcased here offers proof that our future is just as bright.

C. Scott Green ‘84
President

Published in the Fall 2019 issue of Here We Have Idaho.