Dear ARCS Friends,

As my two-year term as President of ARCS Foundation draws to a close, I want to take a moment to share some of my observations from these years and to thank you for the many ways that each of you has contributed to advancing science in America. I am proud of the work that our chapters’ leaders and the National Board have undertaken to advance our mission while proactively addressing the challenges of this disruptive year.  

In reflecting on my presidential term, I am struck by how fervently ARCS members have demonstrated the organization’s core values and how collaborative you have been in moving ARCS forward. This was especially true during the pandemic when we worked from home and continued to meet regularly via Zoom. ARCS remained focused on its mission of supporting the scientific innovators of the future!  

This spirit of collaboration was particularly evident when we came together to compose a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) statement reflecting our collective values for opening doors to scientific achievement for all. Like every vibrant organization, ARCS has evolved over time, and while adapting to change in any form can sometimes be uncomfortable, I commend the National Board for welcoming the opportunity to publicly confirm our commitment to equity in science and innovation. I observed the deliberative, collaborative work that went into developing the DEI statement, and I am confident that we will continue to thoughtfully consider the perspectives of all stakeholders as we develop an action plan in support of our DEI statement. In doing so, we will affirm and strengthen our mission to fund outstanding scholars who bring many points of view to bear on solving scientific problems through research. 

I have been blessed to get to know many of you personally, and I thank you for your friendship and the opportunities I have had to learn from you. I am fortunate to have been able to serve ARCS as your national president and interact with members, scholars, alumni, donors, and friends of ARCS across our 15 chapters. I can say with pride and gratitude that the more I have communicated with you, the more I have admired every one of you.  

Sherry
Sherry Lundeen
ARCS Foundation National President