Video Transcript
Hello and greetings from The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy. I’m Steve Bosworth, dean of the School.
In the past you’ve mentioned you enjoy hearing about Fletcher through email and from visits to our newly redesigned website. This video and others to follow will be brought to you via the web, accessible wherever you may be in the world.
Future videos will provide updates from Fletcher’s Dean of Academic Affairs, Senior Associate Dean and other members of the Fletcher community, each providing a unique glimpse into new programs, research, initiatives and events taking place around the world.
Here on the Medford campus, summer is upon us and the 75th Anniversary year has come to a close. Our special celebratory year saw more than 500 alumni and friends gather in Washington, D.C. for the 75th Anniversary Gala, and many more members of the Fletcher community convened at special regional events here on campus, as well as in London, Singapore and México City.
Our recent milestone provided an opportunity to look back on the school’s tremendous impact over the years, as well as to celebrate our unique connection as members of the Fletcher Community. Last May, various members of the community came together for the annual Fletcher Symposium at Talloires in eastern France.
During the weekend’s events, we had the pleasure of hosting Nobel Prize Laureate Marti Ahtisaari, which once again exemplified Fletcher’s strength and ability of convening the world’s thought leaders.
Our 75th year has also been a difficult year for the School and the University as we adjusted to new economic realities. We are happy to report that despite ongoing economic austerity, The Fletcher Fund raised more than 1.3 million in fiscal year 2009, only 2% short of last year’s achievement. To be met with this success speaks volumes to the health of The Fletcher Fund as well as unrestricted annual support from alumni, parents and friends, all of which are vital to the success of any annual giving program.
Further, more alumni contributed to the Fund this year than in prior years—a true testament to the affection and commitment the Fletcher community has for the School. All gifts to The Fletcher Fund count also towards the School's overall comprehensive campaign, of which more than 72 million dollars has now been raised against our 100-million-dollar goal. The Fletcher School goal is part of the Tufts University-wide Beyond Boundaries campaign, which runs through 2011.
With your continued support, we look forward to successfully reaching this milestone goal together.
As the School forges ahead into the next 75 years, Fletcher brings an elevated attention to and examination of the issues most important on the global stage.
This spring, Fletcher graduated its first LLM class, while this fall we will welcome the second MIB class. The introduction of these two new degree programs underscores Fletcher’s commitment to delivering the highest quality educational programs for preparing future leaders in a complex world. Our curriculum and the many conferences, events and special guest lectures held each year combine to deliver an education—and the essential preparation—for lasting positive change in our many areas of work and personal endeavors.
In closing, I hope you’ll enjoy our ongoing video program as we seek to bring additional elements to our alumni and friends in this outreach initiative. Your commitment to the Fletcher mission is critical to the School’s success.
Thank you.