September 23, 2017​

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

The devastation from recent natural disasters—the earthquake in Mexico City, hurricanes affecting much of the Caribbean, including 3.4 million Americans in Puerto Rico—is unfathomable, even as it touches us directly here at Trinity and in Hartford, more than a third of whose residents are Puerto Rican.

I have reached out directly to our students, parents, and alumni in the affected regions to extend my sympathies and support. Dean of the Faculty Tim Cresswell has asked faculty to be particularly sensitive to students who may be under great stress, including those waiting to hear from loved ones in Puerto Rico and elsewhere. To all who may be struggling, please don’t hesitate to reach out, especially to these offices that stand ready to provide support:

Counseling Center
The Dean of Faculty’s Office
Dean of Students office
Human Resources
Office of International Students and Scholars
Office of Multicultural Affairs
Office of Spiritual and Religious Life

We are working to arrange a community gathering to express our collective support and share opportunities to contribute to relief efforts. I hope to confirm details of that gathering by early in the week. In the meantime, my thanks to all in the Trinity community for the deep caring and expressions of support for our neighbors near and far and those members of the Trinity family who are suffering at this time.

Sincerely,

Joanne Berger-Sweeney
President and Trinity College Professor of Neuroscience