First, I want to thank you all for the warm welcome I received from the moment I arrived on campus. Over the past several months, I have had the privilege of meeting many of you at events in Lawrenceville, Princeton and around the country. Your stories and feedback have given me invaluable insight into the University. Now, with your help, we are beginning to take the next step in Rider’s development, and I have every confidence that we are embarking on an exceptional future.
The University’s five-year strategic plan is currently being developed under the guidance of alumni, staff, faculty and students. The plan will closely evaluate all aspects of the Rider experience to see where we are strong and where we need to improve. The central goal of this analysis is to ensure that our students have an experience at Rider that is life-changing. I do not use the phrase “life-changing” glibly. As an institution of higher learning, we must commit ourselves to providing students with opportunities for transformational personal growth.
I strongly believe that active participation in college — engaged learning in class and beyond — creates the bedrock for a successful career and a fulfilling life. In real terms, this means that students will be encouraged not only to strive for academic distinction but to pursue competitive internships, seek research opportunities, travel and study abroad, display their talents on stage at Rider and beyond, and give back to the community through their time and talent. More than anything, Rider’s future depends on making the student experience not simply excellent, but exceptional. A new website dedicated to these endeavors can be found at www.rider.edu/engagedlearning.
The three feature stories included in the following pages illustrate that we continue to challenge our students to ask and answer difficult questions — whether they relate to the evolution of life on this planet (and possibly elsewhere), the challenges of succeeding on a nontraditional life path or finding a voice in the face of adversity. I hope you enjoy these stories and the rest of the magazine. I also look forward to seeing you at one of our signature alumni events in the coming months.
With Rider pride,
Gregory G. Dell’Omo, Ph.D.
President, Rider University
