PERSPECTIVES
Continuing the Good Work of an Exceptional President By Margot Anne Kelley Mitch and I are sitting in the living room at Unity House, the winter afternoon light fading to gray beyond the bank of south-facing windows. Though it is another blustery day, the snow falling and blowing wildly, we are warm and comfortable as we compare new iPad apps.
Trustees Robert Pollis and Margot Anne Kelley greet students during a campus tour. President Mitchell Thomashow offers his congratulations to a graduate.
“Have you seen this one?” Mitch passes his iPad over, excited to share an application that turns the tiny computer into a musical instrument. I haven’t seen it before—which is not a surprise. Whenever we do this, Mitch is always at least two cool apps beyond me. Indeed, I think he is two steps ahead of most of us, most of the time. Such curiosity and enthusiasm are evident in everything that Mitch does—be it as small as app surfing or as large as awarding diplomas at graduation. And over the five years that he has served as president of Unity, his energy and passion and excitement, his belief in the absolutely crucial nature of the work of the College, have infused the whole community with a sense of renewed adventure and a desire to keep working for greater and greater goals for the College and the planet. During this relatively brief time, he has guided the College toward a number of significant achievements. Some are obvious—like the house in which we are sitting. Others are more subtle—like changing from rolling admissions to employing an admissions application deadline. Each of these changes has helped propel Unity onto the national stage, enabling the College to gain recognition for its unique educational program. “I am immensely proud of the collaborative effort that has catapulted Unity into national prominence as a sustainability leader. Our emphasis on service, sustainability, and science is a compelling combination that is just right for Unity and
UNITY SPRING 2011 |
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