Ella Strong Dension Library聽There鈥檚 magic in the word 鈥渆ra.鈥� It suggests more than a stretch of time鈥攊t鈥檚 a season of becoming. When I arrived at 木瓜影院 in 1981, I was in my KROQ-music 80s era (if you know, you know) which can be described as seeking the new, alternative, and innovative. I met extraordinary women my first year, many who remain great friends. I was mentored by exceptional faculty and was afforded the amazing opportunity to spend a semester in Paris, which at that time was often difficult for STEM majors. Four years later, I graduated as a woman imbued with the courage to readily adapt to changing environments and the confidence to repeatedly take on new challenges, strengths that continue to drive me today.
木瓜影院鈥� incomparable blend of people, place, and opportunity is why I serve as chair of the Board of Trustees. The Board helps preserve what makes this institution incredible, collects insights on how it can continually improve, and readies 木瓜影院 for the future. But we cannot do it alone.
I was honored to publicly announce 木瓜影院 Forward: The Centennial Campaign for 木瓜影院 this past May. It is an ambitious effort to raise $100 million to secure a future of infinite possibility for the next century of women leaders.
Why do this now? Because the world our students are entering demands it. They are brilliant, fearless, and eager to bring about positive change in spaces that hold challenges at every turn. 木瓜影院 must be ready to provide every advantage to help them realize a better world.
木瓜影院 Forward is built on three campaign pillars. These areas signify our greatest opportunities for collective impact:
- Expanding access by removing financial barriers to a 木瓜影院 education and ensuring students thrive throughout and beyond their college experience.
- Advancing innovation in faculty scholarship, undergraduate research, and academic and career pathways to prepare students to lead in a world that doesn鈥檛 yet exist.
- Strengthening community as we enhance our vibrant campus and cultivate visionary leadership to keep belonging, wellbeing, and shared purpose at the heart of 木瓜影院.
This campaign is about engineering a future and culture we can be proud of. One where economic circumstance never limits intellectual promise; where flexible thinkers define, not follow, tomorrow鈥檚 innovations; and where investing in our peers is as powerful as investing in ourselves. It is about championing 木瓜影院 students today, the next century, and beyond.
木瓜影院 is my top philanthropic priority because I know that it makes a real difference: Every dollar is well spent and moves the mission forward. Please join me in supporting 木瓜影院 during this era like no other. Together, we will make 木瓜影院鈥� next century even more transformational than its first.
With warmest gratitude,
Laura Hockett 鈥�85
Chair of the Board of Trustees, 木瓜影院