Bulldog Bites

News and Views from the University of Redlands

Celebrating the holidays and U of R’s achievements

University of Redlands President Krista Newkirk extends warm wishes for the holiday season and reflects upon the many accomplishments of the Bulldog community. Below is the video and text of her year-end greeting.

The holidays offer an opportunity to reflect, to give thanks for the blessings of the past year, and to consider the future. This moment is especially heartwarming for me as I consider the past few months when I have been meeting with our Bulldogs and the surrounding community.  I am grateful for the warm welcome my family and I have received and would like to thank those who have taken the time and made the effort to meet with me or send me a message.

I’d also like to take this time to celebrate some of our community’s many recent achievements:

  • Thanks to the efforts of many members of our community, we were able to safely return to in-person learning this fall. Thank you to everyone who has helped keep us safe through their actions. It has been wonderful to have our students back on campus and studying abroad

  • This fall, we also resumed Bulldog Athletics and celebrated numerous victories, including our soccer and football teams winning the SCIAC championships and participating in post-season competitions. Way to go Bulldogs!

  • The Our House event returned this fall to highlight the creative and scholarly work of our talented faculty. I was inspired by our faculty members’ achievements—from writing biographies to arranging virtual performances to conducting environmental and cultural research.

  • This fall, we unveiled the Fletcher Jones Foundation Innovation Center, which was supported by a nearly $1 million grant from the foundation.

  • Many alumni, parents, and friends reconnected with the people and places that make up the Redlands experience in our beloved tradition of Homecoming & Parents’ Weekend. We saw a record crowd of 2,500 people.

  • At Homecoming, we also launched the one-of-a-kind School of Business & Society. The School prepares students to be purposeful leaders who are ready for social and ethical responsibilities.

  • We marked the 150th anniversary of San Francisco Theological Seminary in Marin with a weekend of fellowship.

  • A team from the School of Education won a $300,000 grant as part of the new California Educator Preparation Innovation Collaborative.

  • The School of Continuing Studies recently launched an array of new programs, including a Summer Term program in collaboration with the College, and a certificate in nonprofit management.

  • This year’s Inclusive Community and Justice Fund winners will help advance access, equity, and inclusion. The seven funded projects include preparation for our second Juneteenth celebration and a collaboration to use the University’s new Hispanic-Serving Institution status to better serve our students.

  • In a new marketing campaign, The Redlands Promise, we emphasize the University’s outstanding value by translating complex financial aid policy into clear tuition guarantees for prospective first-year undergraduates.

  • Finally, we’re gathering momentum to finish the University’s historic $200 million Forever Yours fundraising campaign at midnight on December 31, thanks to generous gifts from thousands of Bulldogs and friends. Now, with the new Lightbody Matching Challenge, gifts up to $2,000 from all new campaign donors will be matched, dollar for dollar, through the end of the year. I am confident that, with your help, we will cross the campaign finish line strong!

There is so much to be thankful for, but if I had to choose just one thing, it would be our caring and resilient Bulldog community. I am immensely grateful for our students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and friends. Thanks to each of you for your love and support of the University.

As we look to 2022, we will continue our work to make the University of Redlands a stronger university that continues to provide a personalized education and opportunities for future leaders.

Happy holidays to you and your loved ones.

To learn more about Newkirk, see the Office of the President webpages and the recent cover story of Och Tamale magazine. To learn more about the University of Redlands, see www.redlands.edu.