I was thrilled to announce yesterday that, after a robust national search, John Kosky has been appointed vice president and chief human resources officer. John has served in this role in an interim capacity since June 30, 2020 and is an important member of my team, providing strategic advice to executive leaders on COVID-related matters affecting our workforce while also advancing key HR initiatives. UVA HR serves the Academic Division, UVA Health, and the University Physicians Group, which together employ nearly 28,000 full-time and part-time faculty, staff, and team members. To be able to promote a talented leader like John from within our own organization is a privilege. Read more about John and his new role in UVA Today. 

I'm a big believer in using data to deepen understanding, inform decisions, and figure out how to improve. I'm also extremely competitive, and this UVA Today story about how Math Professor Ken Ono is working with UVA swimmers to help them cut their times is right up my alley. Our student-athletes are first and foremost students, and it is incredible to see them learning and sharpening their athletic skills at the same time. Professor Ono is doing great work helping students succeed both in and out of the pool.

UVA is a 24/7 operation, 365 days a year, including holidays. I had a chance to visit with staff working during the holidays in several departments and thank them for all their great work year-round. Pictured here are members of the Health System Control/ Heat Plant team who were working on Christmas Eve. Thanks for all that you do!

At this time of year, many of us are thinking about giving to family and friends and to organizations and our community. We are so fortunate to be part of an amazing community here in the Charlottesville area. This week, President Ryan announced that three properties in Charlottesville and Albemarle County owned by the University or the University of Virginia Foundation have been selected as sites proposed for a new housing development initiative. It's a big step in this important work, and I am glad to be involved with it. We're also coming to the home stretch of the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign, where our employees can support charitable organizations that matter to them. Closer to my work home, we're wrapping up a food drive in O'Neil Hall to support the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. Giving feels good all the time, not just in December...

Would you like to hear from our regional state legislators about the 2022 Virginia General Assembly Session? Please join me next Monday, December 13 from noon until 1 p.m. in the Alumni Hall Ballroom (211 Emmet Street South) for the Legislative Forum. The event is open to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the public. Face masks are required for all attendees...

From mid--November into early December each year, students, faculty, staff, and visitors find reasons to walk near the Rotunda regularly to check on the progress of the Pratt Ginkgo. The Washington Post even ran a story about this special tree a few years ago. It's usually one of the last trees on Grounds to reach full fall color, typically well after the ginkgo trees on McCormick Road have peaked and dropped their bright yellow leaves. Though it may have been slightly past its peak when this photo was taken on Tuesday, it was as beautiful as ever.

Autumn is probably when we're most aware of the trees around us because of their brilliant colors, but UVA's trees are an enormous part of the beauty of the Grounds year-round. Some are now getting a new life thanks to UVA Sawmilling. UVA Today recently covered a story about UVA Sawmilling's work to make a large table for an outdoor classroom using wood from a hundred-foot-tall, 125-year-old tulip poplar tree that came down as part of the main library renovation project...