As we reflect on the completion of the 2023-24 school year, we have much to celebrate. SPCE has been bustling with activity, from sharing our stories and hosting events to celebrating graduations and welcoming new team members. We've also continued to build and strengthen partnerships both within and beyond JMU. I am excited to share the highlights of these past few months with you in this edition.

I am also delighted to announce that I have officially accepted the position of Dean of the School of Professional and Continuing Education, effective June 1! After serving as Interim Dean for the past two years, I am incredibly proud of the accomplishments we've achieved together and optimistic about the bright future ahead. I look forward to continuing our work to develop and execute our unit's mission and vision, and to fostering even stronger partnerships within JMU, across our campus, and with the broader community. It is an honor to lead such a wonderfully talented team.

You can read more about my appointment here:

• JMU – Nick Swartz Named Dean of JMU SPCE
• DNR – JMU Appoints New Professional, Continuing Education Dean

Here are some recent highlights from our unit:

• The Adult Degree Program celebrated 112 graduates at Commencement on May 10^th.
• Our Youth Programs awarded $63,000 in scholarships this year to students attending camps, surpassing last year’s amount of $14,300! We hope to see this number continue to grow.
• We have welcomed a new Director of Marketing and Recruitment (Donna Garber), two new Program Coordinators (Jess Stallings and Haley Smith), and a new Administrative Assistant to the Dean (Laurissa Kennedy).

Thank you for your continued support and engagement with SPCE. I look forward to sharing more exciting updates and achievements in the months to come.

Sincerely,

Dr. Nicholas J. Swartz

Dean