Lincoln University Wishes You a Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from Lincoln University.

From all of us at Lincoln — may your Thanksgiving be filled with gratitude, family and friends and good food.

Campus will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 27, and Friday, Nov. 28. Normal campus operations will resume Monday, Dec. 1 at 8 a.m.

Thank you for all the responses to Dr. Winrow's request to share what you are thankful for about Lincoln University. Each one is a reminder of how our university has made an impact on our students, alumni, faculty and staff — and why we continue our mission to move Lincoln forward.

Scroll down to read a sampling of the responses.

I am truly grateful to be part of Lincoln University, a community built on purpose, kindness and dedication. As a project manager, I see each day how our shared commitment uplifts students and strengthens the mission we serve. I am thankful for supportive colleagues, inspiring leadership and the sense of family that makes Lincoln so special. – Yasmin Barazandegan, USDA-NextGen project manager/research scholar

I’m grateful for the everyday aspirations I witness at Lincoln, students who show grit and growth, faculty and staff who go the extra mile, and a community that keeps opening doors for our Blue Tigers. From energizing classroom discussions and case competitions to accreditation progress, new program ideas and partnerships that expand opportunity, including our prison education work, I see mission in action. I’m thankful for alumni, advisors and local partners who invest in our students’ success, and for colleagues who model excellence and care. Most of all, I’m grateful for the privilege to serve, and equally grateful for the opportunity to watch potential turn into achievement and knowing that what we build here changes lives well beyond our campus. – Abdul Ajia, School of Business department head and associate professor of business administration and marketing

I am thankful for my teachers, especially Dr. Waters. She has helped me throughout the years and is a fantastic teacher. She has taught me so much while I have been at Lincoln and has supported me in my classes. – Piper Higgins, LU senior

I am grateful for the opportunity for education that Lincoln has provided not only for myself but for thousands of others who came to this campus in search of knowledge and achievement. LU’s legacy of opportunity has lasted 160 years because of the willingness to educate, nurture and provide support. When I hear the phrase “Lincoln Family,” it reminds me that I am exactly where I belong. – Mark Schleer ’07, Lincoln University Archives and Ethnic Studies Center director

I have an absolutely amazing boss and coworkers. They make coming in and being at work tolerable on stressful days. We are seriously one big family, and I know they have my back. They make me laugh and smile when the days are hard and make LUPD one of the best police departments I have ever worked for. – Chastity Barnes, LUPD dispatch coordinator and administrative assistant

When I graduated from high school in 1970, my parents had no resources to help me continue my education. Thanks to a scholarship from Lincoln University and a part-time job, I was able to complete my degree in 1974 with no student debt. The friendships I made and the experiences I gained have lasted a lifetime. During my tenure at Lincoln, I met several legendary leaders, including Dr. James Frank, Athletic Director Dwight Reed, Coach Leo Lewis, Dr. Lorenzo Greene, Dr. Willis Byrd and Professor Cecil Blue. I had some wonderful instructors, including Dr. Henry Polowy, Joe Trigg, Glenn Jatho, Mary Smallwood and Carl Hogg in the math department; Dr. David Warner in the physics department; history professors Dan Bradbury and Herbert Loring; and especially English Professor Blue, whose classroom leadership, positive attitude and personal story have stuck with me for more than 50 years. I owe Lincoln University more than I can ever repay. – Dennis Strobel ’74

I am thankful for the individuals I have the pleasure of working with every day. Being located at a satellite campus has its own unique challenges, but the faculty at Fort Leonard Wood are resilient, brilliant and will do everything in their power to ensure every student, faculty member and staff member succeeds. I am also thankful for all the faculty and staff at the main campus who support us in a myriad of ways, even if it seems a little outside the box. It is because of everyone supporting and lifting up the Fort Leonard Wood campus that the nursing program has thrived. They are also the reason our brand-new programs will be exemplary. – Rebecca Goebel, FLW program assistant

I am thankful for Lincoln for many reasons! For one, LU helped fulfill my academic dream of attending an HBCU and earning my degree (B.S. in marketing). Not to mention, making me a second-generation LU alum joining both my mother (Cynthia Bell-Robinson, c/o '71) and late uncle (Walter Bell, Jr., c/o '73), who preceded me. While attending Lincoln, it prepped me for the real world in various aspects like being independent, budgeting my finances/resources and how to adapt to new environments (logistically, socially and otherwise), to name a few. Lastly and most importantly, in having my experiences at LU, I am thankful I am able to get involved as both the VP and correspondence secretary with my local Chicago Metro Alumni Chapter. This opportunity allows me to potentially reach, recruit and hopefully retain future Blue Tigers from surrounding area high schools and community colleges, including my hometown of Gary, IN. – Ryan Rogers '00

I am thankful for the lifelong friendships created at Lincoln University, as well as for being given a second chance after making “knucklehead” mistakes as a freshman. At another institution, I wouldn’t have had that opportunity. That led to me obtaining my degree in 1972. Forever grateful. – Bernard Toliver ’73

Lincoln University welcomed me with the most warmth I've seen at any workplace I’ve been. My work here is always valued and makes a difference for my colleagues and for the students. I've grown in my career in a shockingly small amount of time, and I'm so excited to see Lincoln grow with me. – Alexa Sears, online learning coordinator

I am thankful for the incredible students, colleagues, and community members who make Lincoln University such a meaningful place to teach. Every day, I’m inspired by our students’ resilience, curiosity and dedication, especially our first-generation students, whose determination reminds me of my own journey. As a first-generation college graduate myself, I know how transformative education can be and how essential mentorship and community are to student success. Most of all, I’m thankful for the privilege of supporting students as they discover their voice, their confidence and their path forward. That is what makes Lincoln University feel like home. – Elizabeth Dorssom, assistant professor of political science