June 30, 2015

I am excited to report that I am getting on a plane to join you in Eugene. I can’t begin to tell you how thrilled I am about becoming part of the Duck community and assuming the presidency on Wednesday.

I am grateful to the dozens of people who have taken the time to help me learn about the university, the community, and the culture in Eugene over the last couple of months. To those of you I have not yet had the pleasure to meet, I’m sincerely looking forward to getting to know you and the entire UO family. I am excited to get to work and absorb life in the Pacific Northwest.

While many of you may not be on campus during July, if you are in town, I hope you will consider joining me for my first official day on campus on Monday, July 6. I will be spending my day touring campus and meeting with fellow Ducks. The day will conclude with an event for students, faculty, and staff at 3:00 p.m. in Allen Hall where we can get to know each other and enjoy some summer refreshments as I begin to get acclimated to life on campus.

As I said when I spoke briefly to the University Senate during my first visit in May, we must work together in common cause to make this university as great as it can be. I am committed to doing my part and hope to work alongside you in service to our students, community, and state.

I also want to acknowledge the leadership of Scott Coltrane and Frances Bronet during this transition. Without their dedication and wise counsel, I would not be as well prepared for this role, and the university would not be positioned for the greatness that is ahead.

I fully anticipate that the coming weeks of transition will bring about a great new era for our terrific university. I am humbled to have been offered this role at this amazing institution and I truly believe that—together—we CAN make this university as great as it can be. I cannot wait to get started.

If you are looking to connect prior to my arrival, feel free to reach out via prestransition@uoregon.edu. While a move like this is certainly hectic, I will do my best to respond.

Warm regards,

Michael H. Schill
Incoming President