They say you’re not supposed to laugh at your own jokes, so it must have been a humorous comment by Bill Laatsch or Fritz Erickson (right) that had us all smiling at our recent all-campus convocation. Also contributing to the upbeat mood were an awards program for longtime University colleagues and positive updates on two new initiatives, in “green” management and innovation/entrepreneurship.

To learn more about the EMBI and the Green Innovations symposium, check out the Institute’s attractive new website at http://www.uwgb.edu/embi/. Online registration for the symposium is available on the website.

Another promising initiative announced at Mid-Year Convocation is our Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (IEI). Under the direction of Paul Lemens, IEI will help establish UW-Green Bay as a leader in business innovation processes. Paul recently returned to our area from Arizona where he worked in the private sector and at Arizona State University on product and service innovation. He will bring to the IEI fresh ideas for innovation that will benefit our students and the New North region. And he will work closely with others on campus and in the community who will offer expertise and creativity to such a timely initiative.

We also are building a more international campus. If we are going live up to our campuswide theme of “connecting learning to life,” strengthening connections to the global community should be part of every-day life at UW-Green Bay. So far in this academic year, we have built or extended relationships in China, Finland, Italy and Jordan.

This effort is more important than ever as the scope of our economy becomes increasingly international. That’s why I have taken a personal interest in exploring ways in which our University can assist New North communities and residents impacted by the global economy.

It’s an exciting time to be part of the UW-Green Bay community. We have new leadership coming on board in Chancellor-designate Tom Harden. We have talented, hard-working faculty and staff members who are committed to excellence. And we have a supportive region that has stepped forward time after crucial time on behalf of its University.

Yes, there are many challenges, especially those stemming from the economic downturn. However, I can’t think of a better time than the present to invest in the people who will provide the brain power to fuel our economic recovery and long-term growth.

To all of you — from our new hires to the members of that exclusive 40-year club to our community friends — I offer my thanks for all you do for UW-Green Bay, the New North region and the state. Because of your dedication, energy and effort, I have no doubt that this University’s best days are ahead.