Thank You for Eight Rewarding Years

To the FSC Campus Community:

This is a difficult letter to write. As Kathy and I near our departure from Farmingdale, we want to thank the students, faculty, and staff of the College for eight wonderful years. We received a very warm reception upon our arrival in 2016 and many, many people wished us well. We will never forget how welcoming and supportive this campus has been. Indeed, "thank you" seems wholly inadequate to express our appreciation, but I don't know what more to add.

When we arrived in Summer 2016, the College was in a very good place. It is an even stronger institution today. I urge that you not take that success for granted. Few colleges have enjoyed the strong enrollment, financial stability, new construction, increased stature, and enhanced student engagement that have marked Farmingdale. Success can be fleeting and fragile, as many institutions have learned. The level of support that FSC offers for faculty and professional development surpasses all campuses in the technology sector, and many within the SUNY system. Few have matched our recent support for student scholarships and opportunity programs.

Shortly after I started, I made a list of big, broad goals which I referred to as "Ten for 20." These were ten things that I hoped would be achieved or underway in my first four years. The list included adding full-time faculty, improving student engagement, increasing our diversity, significantly raising the levels of external support for the College, improving and expanding our facilities, buildings and grounds, enhancing our reputation, and more. In these areas and more, we have made remarkable strides. Many of you have been vital to these achievements and, with your support, that progress will continue.

Over the past eight years, I have had to make some difficult decisions; each was accompanied by hours of lost sleep. In each instance, I have been guided solely by what I thought to be in the best interest of the College. Your support during those challenging days has meant more to me than you know, and I am grateful.

My deepest appreciation, of course, goes to those with whom I work on a daily basis. Former Chancellor Nancy Zimpher once talked about how much she missed the people with whom she regularly worked. Her words already ring true. We have made many friends here and that has made leaving all the more difficult.

I close by saying how proud I am of the College and the people who have done so much to make Farmingdale an exemplary place. For thousands of students, we are indeed the engine of opportunity, and an example of how public higher education can transform lives.

As inadequate as it seems, I will close by saying thank you. It has been a privilege and an honor.

John Nader
President