President's Message March 2022

This month marks the start of the second half of my year as president. Where has the time gone? As I had anticipated, my team of fellow leaders has been extraordinary to work with, doing work on behalf of the association. I’m proud of the work we’ve done, both behind the scenes to improve processes and practices, and work that’s visible to all, including informative communications and engaging programmatic offerings.

Everyone’s productivity is that much more impressive, considering the context of life these days: COVID variants, conflicts over masking, the weight of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, adjustments associated with remote work and/or return to workplaces, inflation, continuing supply chain issues, and whatever else is weighing on our minds.

Nevertheless, we go on doing our best for our office, our alumni, our families, and ourselves. This is a reminder to give ourselves and one another grace. Thinking about any one of the issues I listed can feel overwhelming; thinking about them comprehensively can be debilitating.

Hang in there. Meteorological spring is just around the corner, with longer days and warmer temperatures. We can’t fix everything that troubles us, but if we take care of ourselves, we will persevere against whatever is thrown at us, and we’ll see another tomorrow to make a positive impact.

Be well,

James Chang
University of Oregon