University President Teresa Sullivan addressed students and faculty Thursday afternoon in a Founder’s Day address in the Harrison Institute. Her speech focused on the University today as it would be viewed through the eyes of Thomas Jefferson.
Sullivan spoke openly about the difficulties of retaining faculty in the past following five years of pay freezes. Sullivan said the University has lagged behind other major institutions because of these wage gaps, with professors switching to other schools for higher pay. She was adamant about offering professors adequate compensation.
“It is one way to ensure we retain a faculty of the highest grade … as Jefferson intended,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan praised the addition of female students at the University, something that during Jefferson’s time was unthinkable. “[Today], we have more daughters than sons,” she said.
Some students were mentioned as receiving high honors during the speech, including fourth-year College student Hillary Hurd, a Marshall Scholar, and third-year Engineering student Ellen Zhong, the second person from the University to ever receive an astronaut scholarship.
“I believe Thomas Jefferson would applaud these rewards, but especially the destinies of high promise they expect,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan also dedicated a portion of her speech to the newly discovered slave graves at the University last year near the University Cemetery.
“This too is part of our legacy, and we are exploring opportunities to appropriately recognize and interpret the contributions of enslaved persons who are an integral part of this University’s story,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan concluded by stressing the work ahead for the University, but remained optimistic for the future.
“We have a lot of work to do,” she said. “Let’s work hard, work together and let’s aim high. To serve as stewards of Mr. Jefferson’s University is a great honor and a great privilege. I look forward to those of you who will join me.”
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