Finding the words that shape tomorrow

The first week of the semester brings a spark — conversations spilling out of classrooms, research groups gathering with renewed energy and new faces beginning to find their place in our community. There’s something about this season that feels both familiar and fresh, as ideas take shape and bold projects begin to emerge. Each fall reminds me that graduate education is not only about personal milestones but also about shaping what comes next, both for you and for the world you will impact.

The Graduate College theme this year is “Adapt today to shape tomorrow.” It speaks to the flexibility and courage required to thrive in graduate school and beyond. The truth is, the world is changing quickly, and the work you do as students, researchers and innovators is vital to how we respond. Growth requires us to adapt, and sometimes that means sitting with uncertainty or discomfort. But it is in those moments that we find new strength and direction.

That is why this year, I will be sharing a series of messages centered on what I call “bold words.” These are words that carry power and possibility — words that can remind us why we began and inspire us to keep going when the path feels uncertain. Graduate education is full of challenges: the long hours of research, the discomfort of not having all the answers and the resilience required to keep learning. Bold words help us adapt today so we can shape tomorrow with confidence.

The idea of focusing on words is not new. In his book “The Power of Positive Leadership: How and Why Positive Leaders Transform Teams and Organizations and Change the World,” Jon Gordon describes centering an entire year around a single guiding word (his was “service”). He found that returning to one word, again and again, gave clarity and strength when distractions or setbacks arose.

This series also draws inspiration from our upcoming Distinguished Lecture with Anthony Robles. His story of being truly unstoppable reminds us that the words we live by can shape how we meet challenges and transform them into strengths. I want us to consider how bold words can guide our journeys.

As you step into this new semester, I invite you to consider: What bold word resonates with you right now? Which word do you want to guide your journey this year?

Share your reflections with me on Instagram or X at @libbyawentz. I look forward to hearing words that inspire you.

With warmest wishes for the year ahead,

Elizabeth A. Wentz
Vice Provost and Dean