President's Corner
What I'm Up To
- I'm reading:
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Ways of Being, by James Bridle, is one of those books that has me walking through the world in a new way. As we talk about artificial intelligence, Bridle is reframing my sense of intelligence in profound ways. Just note the subtitle: Animals, Plants, Machines: The Search for Planetary Intelligence. Mind-blowing and I find myself questioning so much, but with hope and wonder and a beginner’s mind again. I’m buying it for everyone important to me.
- I'm watching:
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After a “meh” opening episode, this season of Ted Lasso really hit its stride and gave us a season full of wonderful moments. The revelation of Nate’s violin playing of the moving “Spiegel im Spiegel,” the “coming out” episode and Ted’s great “We do care” speech, Rebecca’s image in the mirror as a little girl….the themes of parents and children, the baggage we carry, redemption, and so much more have given us a final season that is more substantial than those that came before, while still laugh aloud funny. I’m told the parts of the brain that process happiness and sadness are adjacent. We can’t really know one without the other. Even if the physiology is all wrong, the writers of Ted Lasso have the balance all right.
- I'm listening to:
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What else? The new National album, The First Two Pages of Frankenstein. Lead singer Matt Berninger, officially a “sad dad,” emerges from his depression with a quiet, lovely album. As with their last album, the women with whom they record -- oh, just Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers -- bring a grace note to Berninger’s bass voice and lift those songs to a higher realm, especially on my favorite single, “The Alcott” (with Swift). I graded this effort a solid B- (which means an A- compared to most other bands) and with more listening, it has climbed the grade curve for me. Among their best? No. But very good, especially when you’re in the mood for The National’s quieter side, and good to see them writing again.
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I'm tweeting at @snhuprez:
Pop Picks – June 1, 2023
Posted on June 1, 2023
What I’m reading: Ways of Being, by James Bridle, is one of those books that has me walking through the world in a new way. As we talk about artificial intelligence, Bridle is reframing my sense of intelligence in profound ways. Just note the subtitle: Animals, Plants, Machines: The Search for Planetary Intelligence. Mind-blowing and I find […]
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Celebrating the Work of the Heart
Posted on May 31, 2023
This spring, Southern New Hampshire University proudly welcomed nearly 17,000 graduates to the SNHU alumni community. We marked this incredible achievement through a combination of in-person and virtual commencement ceremonies. With four memorable in-person events held over a single weekend and a subsequent virtual ceremony for those unable to attend in New Hampshire, we took great […]
Read More »“How was Antarctica?”
Posted on January 20, 2023
Lots of people are asking about my recent 15-day trip to Antarctica, and the answer is “Amazing!” In short order: One of the best trips I’ve ever done, exceeding my expectations. The animals are abundant and incredible: penguins, whales, seals, a variety of birds. The landscapes are majestic, the weather capricious. It was a rollicking […]
Read More »Pop Picks – December 26, 2022
Posted on December 26, 2022
What I’m watching: Be warned, if you start watching the Irish dark comedy Bad Sisters, you’re likely to just stay on the couch binge watching all ten episodes of what was the best series on television in 2022. A murder mystery with one of the worst villains/victims in recent history (not a plot spoiler, as you know […]
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2022: Celebrating Connection & Community
Posted on December 21, 2022
2022 brought many reasons to celebrate at SNHU. Here are some of my top highlights from the year.
Read More »SNHU at its best: Celebrating our 2022 fall graduates
Posted on December 6, 2022
Two weeks ago, we celebrated our Fall 2022 Commencement ceremonies. This fall, more than 17,000 students completed their degrees with SNHU; nearly 4,000 graduates and 20,000 guests attended the ceremonies in Manchester, NH; and this weekend we will celebrate 4,500 in our virtual ceremonies. Graduations at SNHU are always particularly celebratory, warm, and personal. They […]
Read More »Pop Picks – November 7, 2022
Posted on November 7, 2022
What I’m watching: I’ve long thought that Jennifer Lawrence’s acting in 2010’s Winter’s Bone was her best work and a tour de force. Then we watched Causeway, the new film released on Apple TV+. After going with blockbuster and conventional Hollywood fare in ways that made me despair for her best self (even if she cleaned up professionally), […]
Read More »Pop Picks – September 7, 2022
Posted on September 7, 2022
What I’m watching: Just saw Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis and absolutely loved it. Critics mostly were “meh” and it rated only a 78% on Rotten Tomatoes. I say this as someone who doesn’t love musicals nor biopics in general, but this was so much fun. Mostly because of Luhrmann’s baroque style, visual vocabulary, and strap-yourself-in pacing. He is […]
Read More »Pop Picks – August 10, 2022
Posted on August 10, 2022
What I’m reading: I’m in an Antarctica state of mind and used a 16-hour plane ride and then being laid low by Covid to read two splendid books: Alfred Lansing’s 1959 Endurance, the best book about Ernest Shackleton’s incredible voyage, and Sara Wheeler’s Terra Incognita, her 1996 adventure travel book which is as much about a spiritual […]
Read More »A broader view: Why refugee safety and security must include access to education and economic opportunity
Posted on June 30, 2022
By Paul LeBlanc, President of Southern New Hampshire University Last week, we celebrated the strength and courage of refugees on World Refugee Day, at a moment when the refugee crisis has been thrust into focus with millions fleeing the war in Ukraine, creating the largest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II. Now more […]
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