From the President

Within five months after a tornado inflicted an estimated $8 million worth of damage to our historic campus, the College has made enormous progress in recovery. William Jewell continues to move forward with gratitude. We will move beyond where we were before the storm, particularly in the quality of our facilities. As a result, we will serve our students better throughout this century. In the short term we are preparing to make numerous facilities improvements. These improvements will significantly enhance existing quality programs such as academics, Harriman Arts, leadership, athletics, residential life and others.

The value of our Liberty / Kansas City community was realized immediately following the storm. The week after the tornado was the most inspirational week of my tenure as President. It was inspiring because I watched our community bond in an energetic and often emotional display of selflessness, loyalty, hard work, caring concern, personal sacrifice and love.

William Jewell is pleased to be listed in the Princeton Review, a listing of the 351 best colleges and universities. This year we ranked fourth in their listing of schools with the happiest students. We were also honored as having the best “town and gown” relationship of all the schools.

The College is consistently recognized nationally among the top tier of liberal arts colleges, with distinctive programs that are firmly grounded in a rigorous academic tradition that has grown for more than 150 years. A recent focus on nurturing emerging abilities among the student body has already resulted in a Marshall Scholarship, a Truman Scholarship, a USA Today Academic All-American Team Member and a Rhodes Scholarship Finalist.

As the institution’s recognition as TIME Magazine’s 2001-02 Liberal Arts College of the Year illustrates, Jewell is unique. Long before classes begin, incoming first-year students are contacted by student mentors who will guide them through the first year of higher learning. Once on campus, the first-year students are embraced by small groups of peers, including student mentors, academic advisors, dean for first-year students, counselors and resident advisers. We prepare students to excel academically, professionally and personally, and to develop as leaders who will have a tremendous impact on their world. At William Jewell, students are our first priority, and they comprise the heart of the institution. This priority is just one of the many reasons we have been selected as a College of Distinction.

My door is always open, so please feel free to drop by for a visit. If I’m not available, my office staff will be happy to try and help you in any way they can.

David Sallee