I was reminded often during the search process that the Lycoming community is not beholden to the status quo, but instead committed to the notion that we must continually endeavor to be better. Indeed, this feature is one of the most enduring and transformative characteristics of our community — one that has informed our evolution from an academy, to a seminary, to a junior college, to a four-year undergraduate institution, and now as one of the Top 100 National Liberal Arts Colleges in the country. We must do all we can to summon and cultivate that deep sense of yearning as we narrate Lycoming College’s next extraordinary chapter, especially in this period of uncommon disruption and educational innovation. Meeting this challenge is hardwired into Lycoming College’s DNA — it will be my great honor to steward the collective decisions and investments we make to ensure that Lycoming continues to thrive as an institution committed to one of the most noble of public goods: educating students for exceptional careers and service to humanity. I cannot imagine a more meaningful place to do this work than right here. It will be my goal to lead with a deep sense of joy, transparency, authenticity, pragmatism, grittiness, and an unwavering commitment to the students of today and tomorrow, ensuring they have a home at Lycoming to pursue a truly first-rate undergraduate education. As a student of history, I know that Lycoming was founded as a Methodist institution. At the center of that religious movement was John Wesley, a minister and member of the faculty of Oxford University. Reverend Wesley gave voice to a maxim or proverb, if you will, that has long served as a guiding principle for me, and it sits on the windowsill in my office. It reads: Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can. I share this because I believe it reflects all that I know to be true about this special place. Lycoming’s 213-year story is marked by extraordinary people, milestones, innovations, accomplishments, setbacks, and triumphs. But even with that long and storied past, we have been given the power and capacity to contribute meaningfully to its future. Lycoming is worthy of our best. In the coming months, we’re committed to reimagining how we work and exploring bold new paths for innovation. I hope you will join me in giving our best to the Lycoming and Williamsport communities, because doing all the good we can requires our collective desire to leave our institutions and communities better than we found them. Charles “Chip” Edmonds, Ed.D. ’98 President 3 www.lycoming.edu
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