RESILIENT is the word that always comes to mind when I think about Black History. 
The month of February, along with every other day of the year, should remind us to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of Blacks. Many of us feel empowered — regardless of circumstance, ethnicity, gender identity, political affiliation, race, religion or social status, etc. — to strive to become better versions of ourselves. Especially when we discover facts about leaders from the past, locate lessons in their adverse moments, and discover how they judiciously endeavored to impact our future.
As we begin to turn the page on the COVID-19 pandemic, most of us recognize that a great deal of work remains in the aftermath of 2020.
RESILIENT! As educators, freshmen scholars, future graduates and innovative leaders, we cannot become lackadaisical in our approach to remain safe. We must be vigilant and pay close attention to the advice of experts.
Masks remain one of the best resources to guard against the coronavirus. Health experts encourage everyone to multi-layer and check to ensure that your mask is sealed tightly (but comfortably) around the nose and mouth. Your mask protects you from others’ air. Remember to protect your eyes, also, when possible.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention identified three important ways to slow the spread:
- Wear a mask to protect yourself and others and stop the spread of COVID-19.
- Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) from others who don’t live with you.
- Avoid crowds. The more people you are in contact with, the more likely you are to be exposed to COVID-19.
Wash your hands with soap and water. If you must use hand sanitizer, confirm that it has a strength of at least 60% alcohol, to ensure efficacy. Please stay home if you are sick.
Finally, please complete the daily Sycamore Symptom Assessment.
Thank you,
Rana Johnson, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President for Inclusive Excellence and Strategic Initiatives