Dear Colleagues,

One of my favorite things about virtual meetings is the occasional surprise appearance from a colleague’s pet. In addition to just being a true animal lover, it provides a unique chance to see the pets, people, and families behind our work.

With that in mind, I am delighted to introduce the newest member of the Venkitanarayanan household: Lincoln, a two-year-old German Shepherd rescue whom my wife, daughter, and I recently adopted.

We were especially fortunate to find Lincoln when we did. In fact, we adopted him just a few days before he was scheduled to be put to sleep. Knowing that we were able to give him a second chance makes his arrival in our home even more meaningful. From the moment he joined our family, Lincoln has been incredibly friendly, affectionate, and eager to connect with everyone he meets. He has settled in remarkably well and has quickly become an important part of our family.

Lincoln has brought friendship, energy, routine, and, of course, plenty of laughter to our home. He has also reminded us that there is never really a dull moment with an adolescent dog around. It is hard to take yourself too seriously when you have a curious two-year-old German Shepherd keeping you on your toes!

As the semester gains momentum and we spend more and more of our time in labs, classrooms, offices, and across our college, we may have fewer opportunities for those spontaneous virtual pet cameos. To help us continue getting to know one another beyond our professional roles, and perhaps brighten our inboxes along the way, I encourage you to share a photo of your pets for possible inclusion in future newsletters. Whether they are dogs, cats, horses, birds, or any other beloved companions, our pets are an important part of our lives and often bring extra joy to our days.

Thank you for all you do for our college and for the students, communities, and people we serve. I hope Lincoln’s story is also a small reminder of the difference that a second chance can make.

Best wishes to everyone for a wonderful and successful start to the semester!

Kumar Venkitanarayanan
Dean and Director

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