I have worked in many jobs over my lifetime.  I grew-up working on a family farm.  I was a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa. I worked with inner city youth in St. Louis. I have also worked for multiple universities.  None of my prior experiences have been like the amazing initial months as dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences here at SJSU.

In this newsletter, you will read about how we are wrapping up a fall semester like none other.  I am incredibly impressed and grateful for how our students, faculty and staff have responded to this most prodigious time.  Faculty and staff have been creative, nimble, and tireless in their efforts to be responsive to the quickly shifting state and county directives related to COVID-19.  They have worked over their summers to be trained in the best pedagogy for remote teaching and learning and preparing their content in a way that assures our students are engaged and learning.  They have collaborated in extraordinary ways with each other and our community partners.

The programs in the College are ones that build upon the opportunities that are afforded by community engaged service learning.  Our students have placements in hospitals, clinics, social service agencies, homeless shelters, and a variety of other health and behavioral health care settings.  Faculty, staff, and students have overcome obstacles the pandemic has presented limiting in-person interactions and clinical work.  Our faculty and staff have been creative and diligent.  Advances have been made in the creation, expansion, and adaptation of health technology, virtual reality, simulation training, and telehealth.

We can all learn from our students to help us be more resilient and innovative, reframe challenges as opportunities, and foster a willingness to both seek and give help. When listening to our students’ stories, I am deeply inspired by what they have overcome and their determination to stay the course with their educational goals.  Their grit, tenacity, and ability to overcome uncharted challenges foretells the promise of our future. I hope you too draw inspiration and hope from the highlights found in this Fall 2020 “Resilient Transformations” newsletter.