A Message From Chancellor-Provost Francine Conway

July 7, 2021

Dear Rutgers–New Brunswick Students, Faculty, and Staff,

It is my distinct honor to begin my service as Chancellor-Provost for Rutgers–New Brunswick. Having been entrusted with realizing President Holloway’s vision for academic excellence, I have a deep and abiding respect for our proven track record of making progress when we work together. I am confident that our already successful approach to institutional excellence, combined with our commitment to providing students with a world-class education, will serve us well as we begin this next chapter in our institution’s development.

As many of you may know, I have served Rutgers–New Brunswick since 2016, first as Dean of the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, and since November 2020 as Provost. I have learned a great deal from the staff without whom our university would not function; the faculty whose teaching and research form the core of our academic prestige and public service; and the students and alumni who are our institution’s heart, soul, and purpose. I have been inspired by the generosity of those who support our community’s advancement efforts, especially amid fiscal and health challenges. And I will not forget the care and consideration that members of our community have shown each other during these challenging times. 

This coming academic year brings new opportunities for us to continue striving toward our aspiration for a beloved community. I will continue to learn from all of you and look forward to partnering with you as we develop an Academic Master Plan that charts the course for our future academic priorities. Allied with this effort, I will also convene an inclusive and diverse Student Experience Task Force to improve the ways we serve our students’ needs and foster their success. Additionally, I will seek input from our staff as we look for ways to improve our operations and practices.

While we are moving forward with implementing our return-to-campus plans, we must also acknowledge the challenges that we have faced over the past academic year. This time has been marked by so many losses: the loss of life, of time with loved ones, of security, and of personal progress. It will take time to heal and find a new sense of normalcy. But we can and will recover as a community. We are, and will become, stronger together.

I encourage all members of our community to connect with me. Please use this link to share your questions, insights, and concerns. I will do my best to ensure a timely and effective response.

Rutgers­–New Brunswick owes each of you a debt of gratitude for your commitment to our university’s continued success throughout the pandemic. I look forward to this next phase of our recovery and to seeing you on campus.

Go, Scarlet Knights!

Sincerely,

Francine Conway, Ph.D.
Chancellor-Provost, Rutgers University–New Brunswick