Giving Thanks

Nov. 23, 2020

Dear UA community, 

I would like to wish you all a happy Thanksgiving and a long, relaxing weekend. 

This holiday season brings with it a complexity of feelings and a healthy dose of gratitude. Like many of you, I typically spend this time with my large extended family, but this year we are all making sacrifices to help to slow the spread of COVID-19. Although it means a quieter holiday celebration, thank you all for the efforts to help minimize the risk imposed by this pandemic. 

Our challenges have been many  –– how we work, how we teach and learn and how we continue meeting our critical mission. But through it all, I have seen great strength and compassion from all of you and from every corner of our UA System. Thank you for continuing to perform your work during this challenging time. 

In this season of giving, I would like to recognize your courage, cooperation, flexibility and teamwork in adjusting to our new operational framework. I would also like to take a moment to recognize all of our frontline workers –– our campus police, fire fighters, health workers, contact tracers and so many others. Thank you for all that you do to keep our communities safe and healthy during this time of uncertainty. 

Let's give thanks for each other and for continued good health. 

Happy Thanksgiving and have a wonderful holiday.

Sincerely, 

Pat Pitney
Interim President, University of Alaska