Dear alumni and friends,
Welcome to the new year! It’s safe to say 2020 will be remembered for its great challenges and countless losses, as well as the incredible heroes and moments of triumph that emerged. Through it all, our students, faculty and staff excelled and persevered. The college has always been the home for creativity and innovation and everyone’s efforts in 2020 - students, faculty, staff and alumni - helped to support the college, the profession and our communities and move us forward.
We continued to take moments to celebrate milestones and moments of joy within our college community. Among them was a virtual 50-year celebration for the Class of 1970. The event, hosted by alumnus Bruce Paddock and our chief development officer, Amy Polski Larson, reconnected classmates, many of whom hadn’t been in contact for 50 years! They reminisced and updated one another on their lives, and many good memories were shared. We also gathered to virtually cheer on the Gopher football team. Throughout 2020, we learned to stay connected despite being apart.
The year ahead has already seen its share of chaos and tragedy. However, we know it will also give us reasons for pride and celebration, and we are excited about what lies ahead. As I write this, pharmacists continue to serve on the frontlines of a global pandemic, playing a critical role in the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. This spring a new class of them will head into a job market and health care environment that need their leadership and innovative thinking now more than ever.
Thank you for your continued support of our students and the college. Together, we are fulfilling our mission of meeting the diverse needs of the people of Minnesota and the world.
With gratitude,
Lynda S. Welage, PharmD, FCCP
Dean