(From left) Mary Willis (visual arts, 1996), Professor of Art Ayokunle Odeleye and Dean Joseph Meeks shared a laugh when alumni and community gathered to honor Prof. Odeleye for 15 years at Kennesaw State on April 23.

In recent years, I have become more aware of my "legacy." I have tried conscientiously to build a legacy that is a credit to my heritage and that will strengthen the College of the Arts, its students and alumni, and the community.

My continuing theme has been about building bridges. This is what I'd like my legacy to be. I hope that I have been a partner in building bridges for better understanding between people across time and cultures. By creating connections between and among communities, we all are inspired and empowered.

In a day when the word "diversity" has become a boiled-down catchphrase, I'd like to believe that true diversity means much more than "black and white." It's not about counting numbers and examining statistics. It's about the power and beauty of the myriad cultures, religions, races, ethnicities and philosophies that enrich our world. It's about bringing people together to recognize, understand and celebrate our common humanity as well as our differences. It's about all of us.

Recently, I have been reminded of the incredible fragility of life. The pain and suffering that we all experience has a way of helping to bring things into perspective. Petty worries, petty fears and petty differences distract us from the really important issues facing us. Sometimes, by focusing on the minutiae, by paying too much attention to the negative, we miss amazing opportunities for learning and growth.

Let's get the trivia out of our lives. Let's put our energy into things that make a difference. Let's make choices that build communities. Then, let's build bridges to bring those communities together.

This is the philosophy that continues to inform my role as Dean of the College of the Arts. As the college reaches even further into the community to present collaborative programming, to seek new learning opportunities for our students and to celebrate the human spirit, I invite you to travel with us across the bridge into a future bright with understanding and acceptance.

COTA Home Page • Flourish Home Page • Back to Top
Subscribe Today • E-mail the Editor