A season of gratitude at Campbell

President’s Blog | Campbell Forward

A special ‘thank you’ for making us feel welcome

November is a month for profound gratitude. It is a time for offering our thanks to God for the bountiful blessings in our lives. It is also an opportunity for us to share our appreciation for the kindness and support of friends, colleagues, and neighbors. This Thanksgiving — my first at Campbell — I extend a message to everyone in the university family: Thank YOU.

Thank YOU for so warmly welcoming me and Kim to Buies Creek. So many people have done so much to make us feel so at home. When folks who know Campbell speak about the qualities that distinguish it from other places, they use words like “community,” “relationships” and “connectedness.” I can now personally attest that those attributes are authentic here. I am grateful.

Thank YOU for rallying with such enthusiasm on Campbell Giving Day 2025 to raise more than $1.2M for our people and programs. During that frenzied 24-hour fundraising effort, 2,381 donors invested in our future. That’s philanthropy with a powerful purpose. I am grateful.

Thank YOU for taking time on a cold November morning to pause and recognize those among us who have worn — or who are currently wearing — a uniform of the United States armed forces. Veterans Day at Campbell this year was special, and I truly enjoyed seeing our campus come together to recognize those who have served their country with honor. This, I believe, is the start of an important new tradition at our University. I am grateful.

Thank YOU for making our attempt at another new tradition — the Prayer Breakfast — a resounding success. For three successive months, we have gathered a robust crowd of faculty and staff for an hour of food, fellowship and prayer. Campbell should be a place with a vibrant spiritual community, and I have been energized each time we have assembled at the Oasis Lounge. We will continue this simple but meaningful practice — come join us the first Wednesday of each month … and bring a friend! I am grateful.

Thank YOU for celebrating each other. Earlier this semester we rolled out a new platform for recognizing staff excellence: the Cherished Camel Award. Immediately we were inundated with scores of nominations from across the campus … testimonials about how co-workers routinely exhibited outstanding performance and exceptional commitment to institutional values and mission. It was fun to accompany Gaylord and Gladys as we surprised a handful of winners with gift baskets and a chorus of accolades. For good colleagues, I am, again, grateful.

Thank YOU to everyone who has taken a moment to dream with us about Campbell University’s future. More than 2,100 members of the Campbell family responded to our request for written input as we work to prepare a new five-year Strategic Plan. Many of you then joined us for one (or more) of the three town hall sessions we held in October and November, providing valuable ideas and suggestions for moving our institution forward. I am excited about committing vision to paper, and your help in this process has been essential. For boldness in looking toward the stars, I am grateful.  

In this season of gratitude, I hope you will accept mine. Happy Thanksgiving, Campbell family!

Dr. William M. Downs
President