As we move into the summertime there is a renewed sense of optimism that seems to be popping up in many places. Mason Korea is no exception. As we celebrate the graduation of our students and look forward to welcoming more students to our campus this fall, I too am filled with optimism as I began my service at George Mason University Korea.
I have only been in the position of Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs for about a month, but I can tell you that I am even more excited than ever to be joining the team. The students, faculty, and staff at Mason Korea are filled with optimism as we look forward to the changing tide of the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea. We are filled with optimism as we think about the expansion of our academic courses, our internship opportunities, and our faculty-student engagement over the summer and into the next year. And I personally am filled with optimism as I see the opportunities for Mason Korea to develop an even stronger foothold as the location for students who want to be the change for the future.
As a former faculty member, I know the importance of the summer as the time to rejuvenate and to allow our minds the time to both rest and expand. The value of time to decompress cannot be overstated; reading novels, poetry, memoirs, or history, taking a leisurely walk or bike ride, or simply taking time to stop all provide a chance for our minds to stretch and be ready to engage again when we come back to campus. I hope you take that time to reflect and engage in self-care, for you certainly have deserved it.
I look forward to meeting the students, faculty, and staff who are Mason Korea when I arrive on campus after my quarantine this summer. As we begin the fall semester, I hope that we do so holding onto our optimism for an improving present day and a brighter future in front of us as we work towards both.