Amid so much public debate and critique about the role and value of universities this past year, I was delighted that Forbes chose to write a great story about how Georgia Tech has become a leading outlier in terms of the return on investment for our students and our impact in our community.

With all the shared joy in the arena, the smiles on students’ faces, and the cheering by family members, Commencement is the most energizing time of the year — and it’s also a good reminder of how much our work matters.

If you’re confused by the ongoing changes in intercollegiate athletics these days, you’re not alone. I’ve been involved in this business for more than two decades, and I am equally perplexed. And yet, with all the uncertainty we face, I have no doubt that our athletics program will continue to thrive, will keep offering life-changing opportunities to hundreds of talented student-athletes, and will be a major net contributor to all of Georgia Tech.

Last month, The Wall Street Journal ran a feature story titled, “Sorry, Harvard. Everyone Wants to Go to College in the South Now,” that circulated widely among alumni. Capped by a full-width shot of the Ramblin’ Wreck, flanked with cheerleaders, leading the football team onto the field, the article covers an enrollment surge among Southern research universities that goes back about two decades and has grown even more considerable recently. Notably, this dramatic jump in out-of-state enrollment among schools in the South is being led almost exclusively by public institutions like Georgia Tech.