Notes from the Provost: July 2026
Dear Friends,
After a week of meetings across our campuses, I’m still finding my way around the city, but the morning walk already has me feeling at home here at Boston University. The kindness and generosity of this community have also stayed with me, from my very first visit to my arrival on July 1.
The better part of an afternoon in BU’s archives this spring (thank you, BU Libraries team!) was a reminder of how much history lives here, and how present it still is in the work you do today. It’s made me all the more excited to be part of it.
My plan for these early months is simple: to show up, listen, and learn. Through conversations with faculty, staff, and students, I’m looking to better understand what’s working well and where we have opportunities to build together.
This section of the Provost Post, and our new website, will be where I share what I’m hearing from you and seeing across the community. My hope is that these updates become a starting point for conversation, and that, together, we can shape what comes next for academic life at BU.
Thank you for the warm welcome. I hope you find some time to enjoy the summer and recharge before the academic year begins.
Sincerely,
Colin Duckett