Announcing the University of Arizona Office of Engagement

Dear colleagues,

Engagement with the people and communities of Arizona has always been at the heart of our land-grant mission. It is also central to Delivering on Our Promise, which names Engagement with Our Communities to Create Opportunity as one of our three strategic imperatives.

In 2024, the University of Arizona pursued the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. While we were not yet deemed ready to receive it, the process gave us a valuable opportunity to take stock of engagement efforts across the university. It affirmed the extraordinary breadth of activity already underway and highlighted where we can better connect, support, and demonstrate our collective impact.

I believe we can build on the important efforts already taking place in every one of our colleges and units to create greater institutional focus and coordination for our engagement mission. In recent weeks, I have consulted with a diverse group of campus leaders already active in this area to understand what is working well today, where we can do more, and how a more unified approach could strengthen what we can achieve together. Their input has shaped what I am sharing today.

I am pleased to announce the establishment of the University of Arizona Office of Engagement. This new office will serve as a strategic hub that will connect people, ideas, resources, and partners across the university and throughout Arizona and beyond.

To lead this office, we are launching a search for a Special Advisor to the President for Engagement, who will report directly to me. This leader will collaborate closely with colleges and units to connect and coordinate our strengths, make it easier for external partners to navigate the university, and pursue work that draws on contributions from across the institution.

The full breadth of the University of Arizona's teaching, research, creativity, and service is the foundation for uplifting and partnering with our communities, and for truly delivering on our land-grant mission. I look forward to the impact this office will have, and to the momentum it will build across every corner of this university and every community we serve. 

Thank you for the role each of you plays not only in serving Arizona, but in working in partnership with our fellow Arizonans.

Sincerely,
Suresh