President's Message September 2025

A Moment to Reflect and Appreciate 

A core part of my undergraduate education that continues to influence me today is the habit of reflecting on my experiences and cultivating gratitude through that reflection. What began as letters, notes, and handmade cards to friends, colleagues, and acquaintances has since evolved into active expressions of appreciation in staff meetings, in conversations with supervisors and other administrators, and through one-on-one chats (GChats!), emails, or texts.

Who are we without the team that surrounds us? Appreciation is a fundamental skill that every strong leader must practice to effectively build and sustain relationships. It can be the driving force behind a colleague's continued success - especially during challenging times (and in higher education, we know those times are here).

Think for a moment: who on your team or within your network has accomplished something impactful, meaningful, or simply important? Have you expressed sincere gratitude for the effort it took to achieve that?

This month, I encourage you to reflect on the people who surround you - both in your professional and personal lives - and to consider how you can best express your appreciation moving forward. I look forward to hearing your reflections; feel free to share them with me at [email protected] if you'd like.

In solidarity,
Kate

Kate Sawicki
President, ACSN