Please join me in welcoming Melissa Rose, who began work this week as director of financial aid. She previously served as director of financial aid at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, and as director of financial aid at Hamilton College. 

SUNYIT recently retained the services of Richard Rit Fuller, whose extensive experience in admissions at RIT, Johns Hopkins University and Hamilton College, is helping shape our larger enrollment strategy. I am pleased to announce that he has agreed to continue as interim vice president for enrollment management through 2013. We will commence a search for a permanent vice president in September with an anticipated start date of January 2014. 

Under Rit's direction and supervision, financial aid will join undergraduate and graduate admissions as part of SUNYIT's enrollment management structure, and two committees—one strategic, one more focused on student services and retention—will work to sustain and grow our enrollment. This arrangement will support our recruitment efforts at a time when prospective students have many competing institutions from which to choose. 

As we look toward fall 2013 and beyond, I know you join me in recognizing the hard work that those in the enrollment management and other related areas have done. Because of the dedication of these professionals, as well as the commitment of our new team members, I am optimistic about our future.