Immersing in purpose

Friday, Jan. 20, 2023

Dedicated students, distinguished colleagues and dear friends,

Happy Friday!

And welcome back! Our campus has sprung to life again with the return of our students and the activities of a new semester. We will not forget nearly three years of nervous planning in hope of uninterrupted assembly and welcome the opportunity of coming together to pursue our purpose.

As we welcome the International Day of Education, established based on the premise that “Education is a human right, a public good and a public responsibility,” I applaud Missouri Gov. Mike Parson’s initiatives in support of state universities, colleges and K-12 education that he highlighted in his state of the state address in Jefferson City on Wednesday.

Our university was founded on the notion of education as a public good and a public responsibility, and we hold true to that philosophy today. S&T is a product of the Morrill Land-Grant Acts, which established schools of the “agricultural and mechanical arts” like the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy (MSM), our original name when we were founded in 1870. These land-grant institutions were created “to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions in life.” While much has changed since our creation as MSM, the essence of the land-grant mission – to provide affordable, accessible education and a pathway to a better life – remains our main objective here at S&T.

To our faculty and staff I say, thank you for continuing to provide our students with a world-class education and the caring support that will help them succeed. You as our “parent professors” are critical to the success of our students, as are our dedicated and supportive staff.

To our students I say, as you start the new term, first and foremost, believe in yourself, your purpose and your destination. Your strong belief in purpose will be positively contagious and will influence your friends and others in your circle. Immerse yourself in your purpose, believe it, mean it and portray it. At the same time, realize that success and your path to that success, as in life itself, is not always linear. You will be challenged, and you will experience difficult moments. And when you do, know that support is available to you. Reach out to any of our many support services for help. Know that you are not alone; you have many who are your champions and will help you overcome the challenges and achieve your goals! Conversely, if you hear from our offices of undergraduate education or student affairs or our advising center with a request, please respond to them. They are fully equipped to address your needs and might be aware of a support service, tutoring, advising, counseling and a whole host of other auxiliary activities that you could benefit from.

So, gear up and look forward to wonderful new challenges ahead; may you have a productive, uninterrupted semester full of learning and discovery.

Warmly,

-Mo.

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Mohammad Dehghani, PhD
Chancellor
mo@mst.edu | 573-341-4116

206 Parker Hall, 300 West 13th Street, Rolla, MO 65409-0910
chancellor.mst.edu