It's always satisfying to share with you news of another successful academic year at the Kellogg School — especially after a year that has been filled with as many accomplishments and high points as this one.

In May, we enjoyed one of the most successful Reunion weekends we have ever organized. More than 1,000 alumni and their guests returned to reconnect with classmates, faculty and staff, and to see the exciting changes that have occurred at Kellogg since they graduated. I had the opportunity to speak with many of those who returned to campus, and it is apparent that our alumni are very much engaged with the school and want to remain connected more than ever.

Indeed, the Kellogg School has never been stronger as an institution. One indication of that strength is the quality of our teaching, which is at an all-time high, even by our already rigorous standards of excellence. This year we saw 71 nominations for our L.G. Lavengood Professor of the Year Award, a number that amounts to nearly half of all our faculty. That so many students feel so strongly about the level of excellence demonstrated by Kellogg School professors is an indication of the overall dedication and distinction we enjoy academically.

We ended the Kellogg School's 2002-2003 year with two inspirational graduation convocations. The members of EMP-53 and EMP-54 marked the conclusion of their studies with a ceremony held June 14 at Pick-Staiger Auditorium, in which Johnson & Johnson CEO William Weldon addressed the new graduates, letting them know how much the business world needs their leadership skills. One week later, we celebrated commencement with more than 1,000 graduates of our full-time and part-time MBA programs at Northwestern University's Welsh-Ryan auditorium. The keynote speaker at that ceremony was Glenn F. Tilton, CEO of UAL Corp. and United Airlines, who spoke about the career challenges graduates are likely to face and how they can use those challenges to make themselves stronger leaders.

I agree wholeheartedly with Tilton that the spirit and tenacity shown by the Class of 2003 is remarkable. Their determination and relationship with the Kellogg School will serve them well as they make a positive and lasting impact on the communities they will help build, and on the organizations they will lead.

Indeed, leadership remains a key focus at the Kellogg School. We continue sponsoring initiatives, such as our inaugural Business Leadership Conference, and enhancing our curriculum to promote leadership — including in the entrepreneurial space. In this way, we keep giving our students both the theoretical frameworks and practical experiences that will enable them to reach the top echelons in their careers. One of our goals going forward is to continue creating more forums for our students, faculty, staff and friends to benefit from Kellogg leadership insights.

We invite you along on this exciting journey, and as always, we value your ideas and input. Together, we are sure to keep the Kellogg School a vital academic community.

Warmest personal regards,

Dipak C. Jain