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I am writing to you today with a heavy heart. In a nation and world made fearful and uncertain by a deadly pandemic, recent events have cast a light on an equally insidious threat—one that strikes at the very foundations of our democracy.

The tragic death in Minnesota of George Floyd—and the civil unrest that has followed—is the latest in a devastating series of reminders that we are and must remain vigilant stewards of an America and world marked by peace and justice for all.

Our future depends on our willingness to model principled leadership; to stand united in opposition to discrimination, whether blatant or covert; and to shun all who seek to divide us, even as we embrace a vision of our world made brighter by shared opportunity.

These principles are fundamental to our mission at UMGC. They are what I cherish most about our university, and they underscore the importance of the work we do every day.

Please join me in pledging to be an advocate always for hope, for opportunity and equality, for justice and peace. Thank you.