Date: September 1, 2021
On my bookshelf is a book my grandmother gave me titled Spring Is A New Beginning. However, for most of my life, because I have been in school or in situations where an academic calendar determined my schedule, fall has always heralded new beginnings. When I arrived at the Seminary nine-and-a-half years ago, I quickly adapted to its school-year rhythm. When I joined Institutional Advancement last year, two other calendars became part of my Seminary experience: the fiscal year and the tax year.
Still, fall brings new beginnings. New students arrive and participate in August Term. Other students return and prepare for the next phase of their academic pursuits at the Seminary. This year brings an additional new beginning for me. Transitioning the last of my Hospitality responsibilities to other departments means that it is no longer necessary for me to live on campus and be on-call for the Guest Houses. After living in Johns Hall for nine-and-a-half years, I will be moving to an off-campus apartment at the beginning of October.
This move will allow me to fully focus on my position as Development Services Director and spend more time learning new skills and insights from the exceptional team of people in Institutional Advancement. I will have more time to follow some personal pursuits I have had to postpone. That does not mean I will stop participating in the Seminary community. I will attend worship in the chapel, this fall I am auditing Dr. Fentress-Williams’ Genesis class, and I will participate in activities as an alum. I look forward to this new phase of my life.
Fall is a new beginning.
Jeffri Harre ’19
Development Services Director