A Special Greeting From Katrina Armstrong

To my fellow members of the Columbia community: students—both new and returning—faculty, researchers, staff, alumni, neighbors—I am honored to have been asked to serve in this role.

I believe deeply in the mission of the University to educate, to discover, and to do all we can to leave the world better than we found it. I come to this because of my belief in Columbia, what we can do as we move forward together.

This year, we must recalibrate as a community, bearing in mind the challenges of the past year and those to come, but not allowing them to define us. We must continue Columbia’s long history of rising to meet the moment, of educating and training the world leaders of tomorrow. Freedom of inquiry, speech, and debate are essential to that mission.

We must take care to bridge divides, find common ground, define our rules and their consequences, and reach understanding based on our shared values.

Columbia is an institution, a concept, an ideal. It has no owners; it belongs to all of us. Columbia is the product of three centuries of students, faculties, alumni, and employees, and exists to serve centuries more. Its leaders serve to protect and advance our mission. It is with this in mind that I assume this role, conscious of our profound responsibility to every member of our community—to all of you.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

Katrina A. Armstrong
Interim President
Columbia University in the City of New York