Hello. My name is Bob Bruininks, and as president of the University of Minnesota, I want to express how pleased I am that you are here. I'm sure you'll find the University an exciting place to work, with a diverse, engaged, and stimulating community.

From our flagship campus located in St. Paul and Minneapolis to the U of M Duluth on Lake Superior's North Shore; from the U of M Crookston in northwestern Minnesota, America's original "laptop" campus, to the U of M Morris campus, described as one of the best public liberal arts colleges in the nation, to our newest campus, the U of M Rochester in southeast Minnesota; this University makes a difference across Minnesota and around the world.

Consider this: the way high school students are taught today is based on reforms initiated more than 100 years ago by the University's first president, William Watts Folwell. The University was the first in America — some say the world — to create a university-sponsored School of Nursing. It was this University that helped develop synthetic rubber; designed the first skyways; defined photosynthesis; created hardy, abundantly productive wheat; performed the world's first open-heart surgery; developed the first Web browser; and today works toward cures for cancer, AIDS, and Alzheimer's; and leads groundbreaking research in electromagnetic resonance, childhood development, genomics, and nanotechnology.

Our alumni make a difference in the world, as well. One was the father of the "green revolution" in the developing world and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Yet another invented the first battery-operated, wearable pacemaker. Several hold prominent positions in national governments — as prime ministers and diplomats, education and economic advisors — and thousands have founded companies employing more than a million people in all 50 states and 63 countries.

None of those accomplishments could have been achieved without the staff of this University — hard-working people like you who support researchers and educators, who manage our finances, and who maintain our facilities and grounds. Staff, faculty, students, and volunteers — all combine to make this University one of the top public research universities in the United States and the world.

So congratulations and welcome aboard.