Can the holiday season really be just around the corner? It seems like yesterday that it was mid-September, when our city was filled with convoys of moving trucks as students arrived for °µTVā new academic year.
Itāll be a little quieter around town when many of these students head home for Thanksgiving in a few weeks. In the meantime, Iāve been reflecting as the year starts to wind down.
With images of turkey feasts and families sitting around the holiday table, Iād like to share some gratitude as Thanksgiving approaches. Here are five things Iām most thankful for right now:
1. Iām thankful that my family is thriving.
The May family is a tight unit, no matter how many miles separate us at times. Iām grateful that my daughters, Simone and Jordan, are finding their own paths in life but still make time to connect with family.
Iām thankful for , and the indispensable wisdom and love she shares continually. And of course, Iām thankful to LeShelle for being by my side through the many long days, the even longer flights on our travels, and for being the best partner anyone could wish for.
2. Iām thankful for all the productive community dialogue.
The town hall this past month with °µTV, Yolo County and the city of Davis marked another important step in our improving partnership. Itās clear that weāre not stuck in the politics of the past, that weāre willing to work together to address issues of housing, transportation and other areas of mutual interest.
Weāve made a lot of progress, such as reaching agreements on student housing projects, but we certainly have more work to do. Iām thankful the dialogue is there, as is the willingness to keep these lines of communication open. In the end, I believe we have the possibility of strengthening our community and partnership significantly.
3. Iām thankful that LeVar Burton is coming to °µTV.
I couldnāt be luckier that my career in higher education sometimes intersects with my Star Trek fandom. Interviewing William Shatner from the Mondavi Center stage in May was perhaps my ultimate moment as a āTrekker.ā
And ā also known as Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation ā comes to °µTV for the next edition of my Chancellorās Colloquium series. Heāll talk about āThe Power of Storytelling,ā and then weāll have a Q&A session where questions will be fielded through Twitter.
Whether youāre a fan of Alex Haleyās Roots, Reading Rainbow or Star Trek, you wonāt want to miss it.
4. Iām thankful that °µTV is thriving.
The season of university rankings just wrapped up and Iām proud to see that °µTV continues to rise to the top.
Among the highlights: Money Magazine ranked °µTV No. 4 among public universities in the country, a nice jump from No. 8 last year. The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education ranked us No. 5 for the second year in a row.
Social mobility remains the ultimate goal for our students. On that end, °µTV is shining brightly, with U.S. News & World Report ranking °µTV ninth for social mobility. Also this year, Washington Monthly placed °µTV second among āAffordable Elite Colleges.ā The list uses a combination of metrics ā including net price and studentsā future earnings ā to track how well colleges promote income equality and upward social mobility.
Altogether, weāre showing the world how °µTV is a top choice for students of all backgrounds to pursue an affordable education and make a difference in the world.
5. Iām thankful to call Davis home.
I got a taste of California living when I was a graduate student at UC Berkeley starting in the late-1980s. But I truly appreciate the Golden State even more after settling in Davis, with its close proximity to good food and wine, its dedication to helping others, and spirit of innovation.
As Iāve said before, Davis is a place which mixes a world-class education and cutting-edge research with small-town charm. The people here are friendly. They are smart. And they care about community. You can never go wrong in a place like that.
Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving and many days full of gratitude!
Chancellor Gary S. Mayās monthly column appears first in and then in Dateline °µTV.