Annual reports are designed to provide a picture of the College’s accomplishments during the past year and I am happy to share with you that this past year has been another record-breaker. In fall 2002, we greeted the College’s “Sesquicentennial Class,” the class of 2006. It was the largest freshman class in Albright’s history with 453 freshmen. As I write this, the incoming class of 2007 will surpass this record. Our application rate also continues to break all records.

But while facts and figures provide part of the picture, they do not always show the whole of what we have accomplished. During this past year, the College adopted a new tagline as part of our marketing efforts, “A different way of thinking.” In choosing this phrase to represent us, we felt it expressed something distinctive and important about the essence of Albright.

But what is “a different way of thinking?” I believe it speaks to the instrinsic character of this institution and its people — how we approach what we do. For the institution that is Albright, thinking differently implies a commitment to individuals that exceeds the norm. It implies a willingness to be flexible, and a readiness to reach out to others. It means we do not just teach our students, but we also learn from them.

Thinking differently means a commitment to substance that goes beyond curricular content and ensures that students understand the multiple issues and perspectives that surround learning. It means we forge active connections between topics, ideas and disciplines by providing forums for dialogue, in an environment that fosters growth - intellectual, spiritual, interpersonal and human.

For our faculty, thinking differently describes their conscious effort to step beyond disciplinary boundaries. Albright’s faculty are exceptional in this regard, not only avoiding isolation and turfism, but reaching entire new levels of collegiality and collaboration.

And while the faculty of most small liberal arts colleges take rightful pride in having close connections with students, to think differently means to take those relationships even further, into intensive collaboration and partnership. With half of our students combining fields of learning, our faculty are tireless advisors to help them make wise choices about creating dual or triple majors. To do this effectively, professors must know students, believe in their dreams and recognize their talents so they can make solid decisions about both a meaningful education and a meaningful future.

For our students, of course, our job is to inculcate that different way of viewing the world, of learning, of synthesizing information into broad knowledge and even wisdom. But I think there is a different way of thinking inherent in the very character of our student body. As you will see from the profiles that appear on the following pages, our students are a diverse and interesting group, creative and energetic to an amazing degree. They take on leadership roles, take risks and pull rabbits out of hats (literally, in some cases! See page 10.) They not only take on the challenge of combining academic areas, they also combine diverse elements into challenging and fulfilling lives on campus.

In this report, I am pleased to introduce you to just a few of the students and faculty who embody our “different way of thinking.” They have felt the direct impact of the generous support of our many friends and alumni included in our Honor Roll of Donors. On behalf of everyone at Albright College, our heartfelt gratitude for your support of our mission, our vision and the individuals who make up Albright College.