July 7, 2023
Dear Members of the Connecticut College Community,
I am writing with a brief update as I get started as your interim president.
I have been diligently preparing for this important role since the Board of Trustees announced my appointment last month. My first official day was July 1 and Phyllis and I are settling into our temporary home in downtown New London while the president’s house undergoes some repairs.
I am so excited to get started on my two primary goals as interim president -- to advance the healing process within the Conn community and to further our strategic plan, Building on Strength.
As a first step in both these endeavors, I have been meeting with or scheduling meetings as soon as possible with various constituencies on campus. I have already met with senior administrators individually and as a whole as well as with some other campus leaders. Next week, I will meet with leadership of FSCC and the faculty as a whole. Next week, I also will meet with leadership of Staff Council and the following week with staff as a whole. I also will meet soon with leadership of SGA and in the fall with students as a whole when they return to campus. The details of some these meetings are still being worked out and my office will keep the campus informed. There will be additional opportunities for all of us to connect as time passes.
Also, you may see me walking around campus, so please feel free to introduce yourself and offer your thoughts. I will do my best to remember names and faces.
These recent months have been challenging for Conn, but I am confident this College has the determination and the grace needed to overcome any obstacle. As we move forward together, I am confident we can engage in the active listening, constructive dialogue and respectful collaboration needed to succeed.
I am confident in Conn’s future as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the nation, and I look forward to working with all of you.
Yours,
Les Wong, Ph.D.
Interim President