A message from Dean Sousa

September 12, 2023

Friends,

At this point, we’ve been through plenty. National, regional, and intensely local tragedies and trauma seem to have defined us since the Flint Water Crisis in 2014. If you look at the list of events the people of our college have worked through – the water crisis, Nassar, Strampel, the pandemic, George Floyd, Jan. 6, 2021, Patrick Lyoya, and February 13, 2023 – the lineup is one long gauntlet of unnecessary, man-made traumas. Some of us have been directly injured or traumatized, we have lost loved ones, and we’ve been scared and demoralized. But through it all, the people of the college have been there for each other and for the people of our communities.

The news and events of the weekend bring back some of this trauma even as the adjudication of the case is not yet complete. We are going to be in this for a while, but I am glad we have each other. Please be there for one another, and the people in our communities. There are support resources for our students, staff, and faculty, and all of our campuses have psychological support services as well.

Members of the Student Affairs leadership are available to support students at the times listed below. Please email Dr. Lipscomb, Dr. Brady, Dr. Lowery, Dr. McGovern, Dr. Armstrong, or Dr. Wilbanks to arrange a virtual meeting during the times listed. Student Affairs leadership members are also available at times outside of these listed for students whose circumstances do not align with the listed times. Please email any of the leaders to arrange a time to meet.

We know our environment has immediate and long-term impacts on us through our biology. That is how life works. It is clear from modern biology that our psychological environment changes our brain and the rest of our body, and to some degree, we can manage or improve that environment. Make use of the resources as you need them, and look out for each other.

Peace,

Aron

Aron Sousa, MD
Dean, College of Human Medicine