Letter from the Dean January 2020

Dear Families,

As we finish the second week of the term, we have several important things to share. First, following on the news earlier this week that a member of the community has been identified as having an active case of TB, the College has posted the 24-minute video of the campus forum conducted by New Hampshire State Deputy Epidemiologist and Geisel School of Medicine Professor Dr. Elizabeth Talbot. Her expert explanation of the nature of TB and the state's public health investigative process is thorough, direct and highly informative. You'll find it posted at the end of the Dartmouth News article at https://news.dartmouth.edu/news/2020/01/dartmouth-community-member-has-tuberculosis.

Second, our Martin Luther King Jr. celebration begins tomorrow. Over the next two weeks, please encourage your student to take advantage of the wide range of talks, films, and other activities on our MLK schedule, including the keynote address by Dartmouth's own award-winning author Kianny Antigua, and the Tucker Center's Multifaith Celebration featuring civil rights attorney and former NAACP CEO Reverend Cornell William Brooks.

Finally, I want to take a moment to echo President Hanlon's recognition of the "crucial role" that our staff play in the life of the community and the success of the College. In December, we honored 245 employees for their many years of service and commitment. This week, staff from all parts of campus activated quickly and worked tirelessly to respond to the TB report. Every day throughout the year, the care and dedication staff bring to their work is truly impressive. From groundskeepers and custodial staff to dining services workers, administrative assistants, events coordinators, security officers, program staff, librarians, clinicians, student affairs staff – the list goes on – all help make Dartmouth the special place that it is. We are deeply grateful.

With best wishes,

Kathryn Lively

Dean of the College

Professor of Sociology