Spring, when it finally arrives in Vermont, is a time when we start to make new plans, and make room for change. It is at this time of the year that our seniors look forward to commencement and the beginning of a new journey. And in a few weeks Dr. Marlene Tromp will join UVM as its 28th President. I know our entire community looks forward to welcoming her.

President Tromp will be joining an institution that in February gained the prestigious R1 designation from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching—the highest research classification in the Carnegie system. This is a recognition of our extremely robust research enterprise, and is a designation earned by less than 3 percent of higher education institutions in the nation. It reflects not only our commitment to academic excellence but also our role as a driver of innovation and opportunity for Vermont and beyond.

The scope of UVM research can be seen throughout this issue, including in the work of neurological scientist Davi Bock’s groundbreaking brain-mapping, and in our faculty and staff across our campus who are developing an understanding of the drivers behind the spread of tick populations, and are spurring the development of a Lyme disease vaccine to mitigate the effects of that tick migration—a clear example of our Planetary Health Initiative in action.

At the same time, we have had to adjust to an unprecedented amount of uncertainty and concern over federal actions originating from our nation’s capital. We are working closely with our faculty and staff, as well as our congressional delegation and other leaders in the state, to plan for any research or other implications, while continuing to promote and advocate for our work as a university, and to ensure our continued compliance with all federal laws. Throughout this time, we have emphasized our steadfast commitment to the values of Our Common Ground. Our longstanding commitment to these values, our dedication to the success of our entire community, our land grant mission, and our continued focus on impactful research guide us as we navigate through this evolving landscape in higher education.

Amid this uncertainty, our student-athletes continue to make us proud. The campus is still buzzing about the incredible success of our men’s soccer team capturing the soccer program’s first-ever NCAA championship. You can read more about that in this issue, as well as the success of our field hockey and women’s basketball teams. And away from the field, our Army ROTC program, for the third time in a decade, received the  General Douglas MacArthur Award for Leadership as the best program in the Northeast. We’re so proud of the accomplishments of all our students.

This season is also a time of change for me. I have accepted a new role as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at the University of Arizona. While this new opportunity is truly exciting to me—especially the chance to spend more time with my grandchildren in Scottsdale, Arizona—it will be bittersweet for me to leave UVM. I have dedicated the past 30 years of my life in service to this institution, and I have made innumerable connections with colleagues and students who are dear to me. It has been an honor to serve as interim president, and I will forever treasure my time here and all that we accomplished together. UVM will always have a special place in my heart. I know this great university will continue to thrive because of the incredible faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and students who are the heartbeat of our community.