Augusta University
Russell T. Keen, EdD
In 2006 Elton John released a single titled, “The Bridge,” which opens with the following verse:
I’ve seen the bridge, and the bridge is long
And they built it high, and they built it strong
Strong enough to hold the weight of time
Long enough to leave some of us behind.
The song suggests that all of us at various stages in our professional and personal lives must assess the current state of where we are, where we want to be, and determine if we have the fortitude to be relentless in our pursuits to ultimately see our goals come to fruition. The chorus goes on to say:
And every one of us has to face that day
Do you cross the bridge or do you fade away?
And every one of us that ever came to play
Has to cross the bridge or fade away.
While the story of Augusta University is still being written, we wouldn’t be where we are today without those who came before us to create the structure needed to journey on the bridge toward greater significance and prominence. We are crossing the bridge of truly being “like no other,” while also laying the groundwork for other pathways in the future.
However, the bridges we are designing and building today are not single, one-way paths to a destination. From a community engagement perspective, we are on a two-way bridge where reciprocity, collaboration, and innovation provide the foundation upon which we travel. I couldn’t be more humbled by and proud of our team and our community.
During the last several months we have seen tremendous examples of partnership, teamwork, and advancement. Whether helping place our incoming students with housing, contributing to scholarships, attending sporting events, or talking to the middle school and high school students in your life about the tremendous higher education opportunities at AU, we are grateful for your steadfast commitment and support.
Sincerely,
Russell T. Keen, EdDEVP for Administration and External Relations & Chief of Staff to the President Read Newsletter
