When we look back at 2020, there is no doubt we’ll remember a dreadful year — a lethal pandemic, a moment of reckoning over enduring racial inequality, and a political crisis that exposed the vulnerabilities of our nation’s form of self-government. But I hope we’ll also see it as an opportunity for collective self-reflection, renewal, and learning. It is up to all of us to not let these crises go to waste.

This past weekend, we wrapped up the most extraordinary semester in Georgia Tech’s 135-year history with a celebration like none before. With a host of safety precautions and online streaming options in place, faculty, staff, students, and their guests gathered at Bobby Dodd Stadium for three graduation ceremonies held over two days to honor all 9,330 of our 2020 graduates from the spring, summer, and fall.

This week, we launched Georgia Tech’s new strategic plan for the next decade. It marked the culmination of a year of work by more than 5,700 members of the Georgia Tech community, including a number of you. It also marks the beginning of an exciting journey as we bring to life Georgia Tech’s motto of Progress and Service in new and innovative ways.

Even though we’ve had to change just about everything we do to adapt to the challenges of this pandemic, I am proud to see our community move forward and find creative ways to offer outstanding education, conduct important research, and contribute to the vibrant economy and quality of life in our state and beyond.

It is hard to believe that our Fall 2020 semester is finally underway. After a summer of hard work and preparations, students are just completing their first week of classes through a blend of in-person, remote, and hybrid course modes. Despite the circumstances, we just welcomed 3,250 first-year students, the largest and strongest first-year class in Institute history, and our largest-ever transfer class, 900.