TCU officially marked the start of the new academic semester Tuesday morning as faculty, staff and students filled Ed Landreth Auditorium for this year’s Fall Convocation. 

Chancellor Victor Boschini outlined his plans for this academic year at the ceremony. He said he wants to focus on improvement, emphasize more inclusion and strive for positivity–-despite the world’s negative forecast.

“I want to try and discover the similarities we have,” Boschini said. “I think we are all more alike than we are different, and I am going to try and find the things that push us together, rather than pull us apart.”

The convocation was also the first for new Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg.

“I want to be more open to new ideas and make every effort to help guarantee her success,” Boschini said. “She is going to enhance all dimensions of the academic experience for TCU students.”

Sally Fortenberry, an associate professor of fashion merchandising, is looking forward to Dahlberg’s new ideas and the different perspectives she will bring in.

During the convocation ceremony, Boschini said he plans to demonstrate TCU’s values of building relationships and fostering the community that challenges, supports and encourages students this year.

For Associate Dean for Nursing Suzy Lockwood, TCU’s values are the foundation of what she does and how she approaches students.

“TCU’s values help ground me in what I want to put forward to students,” Lockwood said. 

The Wassenich Award, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award and the Chancellor’s Award, given for distinguished achievement as a creative teacher and scholar, were each awarded during the ceremony.

Timeka Gordon, the director of inclusiveness and Intercultural Services and the Community Scholars Program, received the Wassenich Award, which is given for mentoring in the TCU community.

“She met students where they were,” Boschini said. “She just loved them. That’s who she is.”  

Gordon wiped away her tears as she accepted the award and thanked her students.

“Thank you, students, for being a blessing in my life and for allowing me to share your journey every single day,” Gordon said.

Susie Olmos-Soto, a senior learning and development consultant in the Human Resources department, received the DEI Award for helping Spanish-speaking employees learn English.  

“Susie walks the walk and talks the talk,” Boschini said. “She brings more diversity, equity and inclusion to TCU’s campus.”

Olmos-Soto shared the spotlight with Spanish-speaking employees as she accepted the award.

“We want to support you and what you do here on campus–doing extraordinary things,” Olmos-Soto said.

Dr. Mike Slattery, the chair and director of the institute for environmental studies, received the Distinguished Achievement award. While announcing the award, Boschini quoted one of Slattery’s graduate students.

“The student said, ‘In my working with Mike Slattery, I experienced considerable growth as a student and as a scientist,'” Boschini said.

Slattery called TCU “one of the best universities to work for” during his acceptance speech.