Last Friday I was privileged to deliver the 2015 State of the University Address – my second since becoming FAU’s president. The past year has been filled with accomplishments, and it was exciting for me to share some highlights with students, faculty, staff and special guests.

I took great pride in shining a spotlight on some truly outstanding individuals, including the late Dr. Michael Friedland, founding dean of our medical college; Dr. James Galvin, an internationally known expert on Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia who has joined our medical faculty; Dr. Jason Hallstrom, a newcomer to our computer science faculty who is revolutionizing the field of sensing technology; Charles “Perry” Weinthal and Chad Coarsey, engineering graduate students who developed a way to create affordable prosthetics using a 3D printer; Jeremy Murphy, a 1998 graduate of FAU who went on to become vice president of communications at the CBS television network; Ricky Santiago, a member of FAU’s baseball team who helped  propel the squad to a national ranking less than a year after having open-heart surgery; and Marc Kudisch, a 1988 alumnus of FAU’s theatre department who is currently starring as Senate Majority Leader Henry Mitchell in season four of Netflix’s hit series “House of Cards.”

I was joined on the stage of the Kaye Auditorium by Emil and Dariel Liakhovetski, the talented Rock Cellos brothers of “America’s Got Talent” fame, who delivered a dynamic performance. Emil, 18, is a pre-med major at FAU, and Dariel, 16, plans on enrolling as a freshman. The audience was also energized by the Unity Step Show, performed by members of FAU’s fraternities and sororities. To view the webcast of the address, click here.

I’m looking forward to joining hands with everyone at FAU as we take our university into an even more exciting future 

Happy Thanksgiving!