Letters / FROM THE PRESIDENT
President Anderson speaks with biology professor David Ribble ‘82 at the 2015 Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium.
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aculty research is a vital part of Trinity University’s mission. Our newest University publication, IMPACT magazine, will annually feature the research, scholarship, creativity, and community engagement that enriches and enlivens the Trinity experience. By promoting faculty scholarship and its impact on the broader communities, we are raising our faculty’s scholarly profile. By investing in resources that invigorate faculty and student research, we broaden opportunities for students and reinforce Trinity’s reputation as a top choice in higher education. The Trinity faculty’s commitment to our students drives their teaching. Their commitment to knowledge drives their research. They link teaching and research in deep, meaningful ways. As a result, Trinity students become active, original thinkers. The faculty’s diligence as scholars and their dedication as teachers combine to benefit our students—one of the true strengths of a Trinity University education. This strength was recently recognized by the Wall Street Journal, which ranked Trinity University No. 72 out of 500 schools nationwide. Especially gratifying was the recognition Trinity received because of our faculty. Based on faculty research productivity and student evaluations of faculty accessibility, Trinity was ranked No. 6 in the nation and No. 1 in the state of Texas: we have a top faculty. Mentorship by faculty scholars helps students develop the skills required to enter the market and succeed in jobs, internships, and
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IMPACT 2015-2016
graduate programs. Trinity students frequently participate in high-level faculty research beyond the classroom, collaborating closely with their professors. Students conduct field work, serve as research assistants, and contribute to professional presentations and published articles. Increasingly, undergraduate research and internships are taking our students into the community to tackle real-world issues and contribute to community-based initiatives that add value to San Antonio and the region. The Gallup-Purdue report “Great Jobs, Great Lives,” based on the 2014 survey of more than 30,000 U.S. college graduates, found that those who had a professor or mentor who made them excited about learning, encouraged them to pursue their goals and dreams, and who had experiential and deep learning, were more likely to have high well-being. At Trinity University, we create connections—in research laboratories and fine arts studios, through student involvement and residential life, and in the community at large. With exceptional and accessible faculty, abundant resources and opportunities, a rigorous yet flexible curriculum, and a diverse campus community, Trinity is a place of discovery and growth.
Best regards,
Danny J. Anderson President, Trinity University