Good morning UMass Dartmouth!

As we approach our long Thanksgiving weekend it is worth reflecting on the rare opportunity we have at UMass Dartmouth to spend our days engaged in learning and discovery. The opportunity we have here to teach, to learn, to discover is an opportunity that is still relatively rare on this earth.

So, as we get ready to take a brief break and consider all those things for which we are thankful, let us remember the teachers and mentors who have dedicated their professional lives to creating new knowledge and sharing it with the rest of us. Let us take a moment to appreciate the idealism and energy personified by our students. In a world scarred by strife and hatred, and in a country that is increasingly polarized over social issues, it is this mixture of knowledge and idealism that offers us inspiration and hope.

James Madison had it right two centuries ago when he said, "Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives."

Have a safe trip home or to your holiday destination. Enjoy the time with family and friends. We look forward to welcoming you back next week for the final weeks of the fall semester.

Jean F. MacCormack
Chancellor
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth