As 2018 comes to a close, I’m reminded of what a wonderful year it was for FAU. We welcomed a new provost, Bret Danilowicz; new vice president and director of athletics, Brian White; and new men’s basketball coach, Dusty May. We celebrated the 10th anniversary of Florida Atlantic University’s acquisition of the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. We also announced the creation of the FAU Max Planck Academy on our Jupiter campus, which will give high school students the opportunity to study and work alongside Ph.D.s from Max Planck, the preeminent neuroscience research institute in the world.

Additionally, FAU received several awards: A.D. Henderson University School on our Boca Raton campus was named a 2018 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education, our Leon Charney Diplomacy Program won its first-ever national title at the National Model United Nations competition, and the university received the ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award from the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches. In athletics, our softball and women’s soccer teams won Conference USA regular season titles.

Thank you to our students, faculty and staff for your hard work this year, and to our alumni and friends for helping to build a bright future for FAU.

From the Kelly family to yours, happy holidays!