It has been quite a year at Illinois Institute of Technology. These past months have been full of exciting changes, including the opening of the first new buildings on campus in nearly 40 years: The McCormick Tribune Campus Center and State Street Village. It's not just our campus that's sporting a new look, though—this past year has brought new educational offerings, new athletic programs and facilities, and new leadership.

In the following pages you will read about many of the significant accomplishments of the past year. While I am inspired every day by these achievements, I am even more inspired by the constant support from all of the individuals who have given of their time, talents and treasures to turn these ideas into reality. So, as we look ahead to a new year filled with new opportunities, which are also described in this edition of IIT Magazine, I would like to take a moment to give thanks to all those who have made this past year truly extraordinary:

Thank you to our donors. We have asked, and you have responded—overwhelmingly. Because of your generosity, we are celebrating new world-class facilities; important renovations of our historic Mies buildings; new cutting-edge academic programs; and brilliant students who would not have been able to attend IIT without the scholarship support your contributions helped to provide.

Thank you to our alumni. Your leadership, loyalty and continued involvement play a vital role in the university's success.

Thank you to our community partners. As leaders of local business and government, your support has played a vital role in the success of our IPRO projects, new facilities, and our shared efforts to revitalize the South Side community.

Thank you to our faculty and staff. Your energy and expertise—whether in the classroom, on the athletic field or in the office—help to support our mission on a daily basis to provide students with an outstanding interprofessional education.

Thank you to our students. To echo the sentiments of Mies van der Rohe, your ingenuity, creativity and spirit make the entire university “a home of ideas and adventures.”

Thank you to all who have contributed over the past year to IIT's legacy of excellence. On behalf of the entire IIT family, I wish you and yours a very happy holiday season.

Lew Collens
President, Illinois Institute of Technology