President Caboni

Dear Colleagues,

Next week, thousands of Hilltoppers spanning multiple generations will return to our Hill to celebrate Homecoming. This special time provides our graduates with an opportunity to reconnect with their professors, friends and campus while reminiscing on the lifechanging experience they had on our Hill. For each of us, Homecoming offers the chance to celebrate the accomplishments of our alumni – reminding us that the work we do in higher education changes lives.

To many of our alumni, our campus has transformed significantly since they were students. As we continue to champion togetherness and shared experiences, recent campus enhancements like The First Year Village and The Commons at Helm Library demonstrate our ongoing commitment to providing physical spaces conducive to collaborative research, learning and an overall deeper engagement in the WKU Experience.

In addition to our traditional Homecoming activities, two events will take place next week that I hope you plan to attend. First, on Thursday, October 27, at 4:00 p.m., we will host a reception at the Kentucky Museum to honor the residents and descendants of Jonesville. The reception features the exhibit, What Happened to Jonesville?, and is the first of several events planned by the Jonesville Reconciliation Workgroup.

The following day, October 28, at 9:30 a.m., we will dedicate Munday Hall, named for Margaret E. Munday. In 1956, Ms. Munday transferred to WKU, and in doing so, became the first Black undergraduate student to enroll at our institution. Her journey into then unchartered territory helped usher in an era of social and academic change at WKU, and after graduating in 1960, she embarked on a teaching career that lasted for more than 30 years and changed countless lives.

You can find a full list of Homecoming activities here. Please join me in connecting with our alumni and friends next week, as we together reflect on the transformative journey our remarkable university provides.

Go Tops!

Best,

Timothy C. Caboni