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Good afternoon. President Auston, it's my pleasure to extend congratulations to you at this important event on behalf of all staff at Case Western Reserve.
This is the first time staff have formally participated at an inaugural ceremony, since the Staff Advisory Council was not created until 1990.
Case Western Reserve has grown remarkably since 1985, when I first stepped on this campus as a freshman, and the changes have been even more speedy and more noticeable during my nine years on staff here.
The expectations for the University have increased as a result of these successes, and the eyes of many will be on you, to see where and how you guide Case Western Reserve during the next phase of its development.
As you take the helm of this institution, we staff members congratulate you on joining the University community, and urge you to keep in mind the resources that we can offer you.
Staff members are important partners in fulfilling the University's mission of teaching, research, and service. They are talented, energetic, and creative professionals. Through their activities on campus year-round, they make significant contributions which help the University attain the highest possible level of distinction in all areas.
Staff members will be an important asset to you as Case Western Reserve seeks to become better-known and more widely respected nationwide for its distinguished programs and achievements. Everyone who contributes to achieving this level of success should be recognized for their efforts.
It will take the best efforts of everyone in the University community, working together in partnership, to help move this University toward even greater acclaim in the years to come. As you help plot our course into the next century, I urge you to involve staff as much as possible in planning and pursuing institutional goals. I look forward to the journey ahead!
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