Fellow Mountaineers,

I am inspired to write this message after watching the events that transpired at the University of Missouri last week. My heart is heavy thinking about students across our country, as well as those here at Appalachian who are not treated with dignity and respect as members of this community. We must never give up striving for inclusion, tolerance and respect for all members of society regardless of race, sexual orientation, religion or any anything else. Having a campus and community that is welcoming to all and hostile to none is a work in progress. I believe our community works hard to achieve this every day, yet we have more work to do.

In this spirit, beginning next week, and each week thereafter, I will be in locations across campus so I can be regularly available for open dialogue sessions with you –without appointment – just to listen to your concerns, your challenges and your ideas.

I will share the locations for these open dialogue times each week via Twitter (@appstatedean).

The first will take place this Tuesday, November 24th from 10:00-11:00 a.m. in Wired Scholar (Belk Library, 1st floor). Bring your lunch, a cup of coffee, or just come talk. Just look for the bald guy in the bow tie.

As I write this message, I am also jarred by the attacks in Paris and other parts of our world. Our Office of International Education reached out to students studying abroad in France, and also those studying here at Appalachian from around the world.

I ask for your continued commitment in supporting one another through the challenges of the semester. Balancing your academic commitments, relationships, perhaps a job and other aspects of life, all can add up this time of the semester. There are so many faculty, staff and students in the Appalachian Community who care about each of you, and are here to support you in this journey.

As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s important to remember that through all of the challenges life presents us, there is much for which we can be thankful each and every day. This is also a significant time to reflect on how each of us plays a role in creating a place in which we are thankful to learn, work, grow and live. I look forward to continuing with you in this journey, and hope you will visit with me over the coming weeks and semester.

Proud to be your Dean of Students,

-JJ

J.J. Brown
Dean of Students