Notes from the Provost: September 2026
Dear Friends,
Every fall, Boston University fills up with new energy. New ideas taking shape in classrooms and labs. New people learning the place — including a few thousand still figuring out where their next class actually meets.
My time as provost began this past July, a few months ahead of the Class of 2030. That meant a summer of showing up: getting to know my team, meeting with members of the BU community, and seeing the work where it happens. A good part of that was on the Medical Campus — the Schools of Medicine, Public Health and Dental Medicine, as well as the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL).
What stood out, more than any building or program, was the people. Deans and faculty who light up when they talk about their work. Staff who have been here for decades and still care like it’s their first year.
This newsletter is where that gets shared — the people, the work, and the moments that exemplify the formula that makes Boston University such a special place.
I’m honored to be here for it.
Sincerely,
Colin Duckett