Dear Firebird Community,
Spring is in full bloom and so is UDC!
I hope each of you is enjoying the balmy temperatures and the splendor of the cherry blossoms. It’s a season for growth and renewal—throughout the District and Firebird Nation.
In recent weeks, we’ve worked closely with mission-aligned partners to create new career pipelines for first responders, gathered some of the area’s top talent for critical conversations in STEM, and inspired new academic and career possibilities for local high school students. We’ve connected students with opportunities at area nonprofits and connected with alumni on the university’s impact. We’ve heralded the launch of a new Innovation Lounge for our student-athletes and a revamped website for the entire UDC community. And we’ve celebrated a new research classification for the university.
That designation—as well as our fifth annual Research Week—is a testament to the vision outlined in our new strategic plan, Delivering on the Promise. As the District’s only public university, we are committed to our role as its economic mobility engine—serving as a local hub for research and innovation, and preparing our graduates for in-demand fields.
Firebirds, as we charge through the final stretch of the spring semester, know that you're an integral part of this season of growth for UDC. Whether you’re a senior gearing up for graduation, a faculty member planning your last few weeks of lessons, or a staff member supporting on-campus events, I invite you to stretch. Feel the energy. Test your limits. And together, let’s turn potential into power.
In service,
Maurice D. Edington, Ph.D.
President
University of the District of Columbia