2018 Letter from the President

Letter from the President

Dear Unity College Community,

What an amazing fall it has been. Seeing all the students here for the opening of the Flagship semester is my annual inspiration, the Sky Lodge ribbon cutting in Moose River in September was spectacular, and Distance Education is launching four new undergraduate degrees online.

On a somber note, we lost President Emeritus Allan B. Karstetter in September. Dr. Karstetter made foundational contributions during a formative time in Unity College’s history through increased enrollment and institutional accreditation. Allan Karstetter the teacher, scholar, leader, and family man lived the kind of rich life that inspires others. Dr. Karstetter will be missed both by his family and by this community.

As I leaf through these pages, I am reminded of the incredible work done every day by the faculty, staff, and students of Unity College. And I am humbled. Students doing primary research alongside their faculty mentors, a friend of the College entrusting us with their life’s legacy, and more alumni stories than we can possibly tell. This is our reason for being. This is my reason for recommitting myself — every day — to America’s Environmental College.

I hope you enjoy the piece on Dr. Perry that portrays her as a superheroine. I love thinking of our faculty as world-saving and life-changing heroes and heroines. Because that’s who they are to our students and to me.

I loved looking again at the pictures of the Unity College: Sky Lodge dedication day. What a day. What a special place. What a transformative gift. Thanks again to Elaine and John Couri for their belief in Unity College.

As we begin to think about a new calendar year, we’re also about halfway through the process to develop the next strategic plan for Unity College. Right now, we’re calling it “Unity College 2025,” but that’s just a working title. The focus for the plan is to put the needs of students and society right at the heart of every decision we make.

I hope you’ll always keep Unity College in your thoughts. We have our ups and downs, but we always work hard to do the right thing. Keep an eye on us during the coming year. And stay in touch. Ours is a college that is beginning to get noticed, and we want all of our friends along for the journey.

In Unity,

Dr. Melik Peter Khoury
President, Unity College