 This is a self-serving post. Forgive me, I am not immune. And a vaccine for this condition will be a long time coming. I like having blogs with a theme. Today's theme is from John Gorka's "Morningside". It's first stanza is: Am I a fool at this late date To heed a voice that says, You can be great I heard it young, now I hear it again It says, you can be better than you′ve ever been I' m probably a fool but I am listening to the voice anyway. I was ridiculously surprised, flabbergasted really, and honored to find out that I was invited to serve on NSF's congressionally mandated Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering (https://new.nsf.gov/od/oia/ceose) starting in February, 2025. Returning to a faculty role in 2021 in an institution like UNCG with 61% of the students being Pell Eligible; over 40% are transfer students: and roughly 50% are first generation has changed me. I am truly in awe of the students in my classes who overcome hurdles that I could never have imagined as an undergraduate or graduate student. They inspire me everyday and give meaning to my life. My single sentence philosophy these days is "I want to do what I can to facilitate every student reaching their full potential". I have tried to implement this philosophy with 1,000 or so students in my classes over the last four years. And, I received many 100s of comments on course evaluations, emails and in person that I am making a difference. One hard part of growing old for me is becoming irrelevant to colleagues, especially after feeling "important" as a VPR, Dean and Provost. And, with that irrelevance comes frustration of not knowing how to share what I have learned over the years. But, students tell me that I can still be better than I have ever been. These are two comments from this past week. Dear Dr. Coleman, Thank you so much for all that you have done for me the past two years. I would not be here today if it were not for you. Your guidance, passion, and unconditional support has meant so much to me. Your kindness and genuine care for students has truly touched my heart. You have created such a wonderful classroom environment and I am so blessed to have experienced being your student in both my classroom and while conducting research. Thank for believing in me!.... Dear Professor Coleman, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for being such an amazing professor and an incredible person. You really care about your student's mental health, and that has meant a lot. Your understanding and kindness towards students has made a big difference, and I've really appreciated the way you create such a welcoming atmosphere in your class. Thank you for everything you've done for us as students. You've been the best professor I've had in college so far, and it’s been such a pleasure being in your class. I hope you have a wonderful break and a great start to the new semester! Teaching here has taught me so much about the barriers to success in STEM and the ways that I can help break down those barriers. I am also on the autism spectrum, and the last four years have shown me large gaps in how universities can support high-functioning neurodiverse people. It has also given me a profound but humorous perspective on my life that I hope to one day write in a book titled "pathologically genuine." I look so forward to bring these perspectives to CSOSE while gaining wisdom from the amazing people I will interact with. I leave this academic year with the hope that I "can be better than I ′ve ever been" in doing what I can to help every student reach their full potential. The surprise email from NSF inviting me to serve on the CSOSE suggests maybe there is hope. Let me close with the last two verses of "Morningside." and reiterate the last line that If I can hope in this fading light, then I'll find you on the Morningside. Don't want to waste what I have to give In all of the time that I′ve left to live Don't want to waste what I have to give In any of the time that I've got left I can do more than I thought I could Work brings more luck than knocking on wood There′s random bad and random good Work brings more good luck I've got dreams to dream Though it seems uphill and a little extreme If I can find hope in this fading light Then I′ll find you on the morningside I have tried for the last four years to bring out of the shadows of what I see as a cloud blinding higher education's leaders. I mean the change we need is so much more than ridding academe of physics and anthropology and the faculty that teach those subjects. I mean our business model isn't even aligned with the reason students come - we often think students are buying credit hours, while they think they are investing in their futures. There is a lot more we could do, but that is not a place I can make a difference. So, this hopefully will be the last time you hear me say anything about higher education in general, because my focus will be making a difference where I can for as long as I can. That wraps up Fall 2024.
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