Speeches and Messages

Stay updated with President Kumar’s messages to the Tufts community, remarks at public engagements, and other news from his office:

Renaming the Science and Engineering Complex (SEC)

November 13, 2024—We are excited to announce that Loring Tu, a professor in the Department of Mathematics, has made a substantial gift to name the Science and Engineering Complex (SEC) in honor of his late grandfather, Tsungming Tu, who was a renowned medical scientist and expert on pharmacology, toxicology, and medical education. Going forward, the SEC will be known as the Tsungming Tu Complex (TTC). Read More


Tufts Beyond 175: Looking to the future past 2027

October 8, 2024—I am writing today to share the launch of a process of grassroots listening and prioritizing to form a new plan for the future of Tufts University called Tufts Beyond 175: Looking to the future past 2027. Read More


Looking ahead to the 2024 election

September 17, 2024—As we approach the official start of the fall season, we are also looking ahead to the 2024 election. Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, and today is National Voter Registration Day! Read More


Matriculation Address – Class of 2028

August 29, 2024—And welcome: Tufts University Class of 2028! It is great to have you here. I know that the next four years of your lives will be transformative. Some of you will tell me that when I run into you a decade or two from now, as the alumni do today. Read More


Reaffirming Our Values and Community Expectations

August 22, 2024—We write to you today to reaffirm the mission of our institution as a student-centered university where we dedicate ourselves to the creation and application of knowledge through teaching, research, and service in our community and society. Read More


Jeff Moslow elected as Board of Trustees chair-designate

May 22, 2024—At the board of trustees meeting last week, the trustees elected the board’s vice chair Jeffrey M. Moslow, A86, A16P, A18P to be the next chairman of the board of trustees starting in November 2024. He succeeds Peter R. Dolan A78, A08P who will step down after 11 years as chair. Read More


President Sunil Kumar Addresses the Class of 2024

On May 18, President Kumar spoke to the Class of 2024 at the annual Baccalaureate Ceremony in the Gantcher Center on the Medford/Somerville campus.

 “It has been a privilege to start my time at Tufts with such an inspirational class of graduates. I am confident that you all will do well and do good. That guided by your values and principles, you will sail through this uncertain year and beyond with ease.” Read More


Update on Efforts to Restore the Academic Quad

April 30, 2024—In an effort to continue to seek a voluntary resolution to the situation on the academic quad, James M. Glaser and Kyongbum Lee, our deans of the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering, met on two separate occasions today with student representatives from the protest and a faculty member they selected. Read More


Restoring the Academic Quad for Commencement

April 28, 2024—Tufts has a time-honored tradition of civil protest. Consistent with that tradition, and throughout this academic year, we have balanced our students’ right to protest with enforcing our conduct policies. Students have been sanctioned when protests affected public safety, were a clear violation of our conduct policies, or interfered with normal university operations. Read More


Update on University Finances

April 11, 2024—We write today with updates on the university’s finances. We are providing this information because the central administration and the schools are engaged in detailed budget planning for the next several years, and we believe it is important for members of the community to have broad understanding of the fiscal environment in which budget decisions are being made. Read More


Congratulations to the 2024 recipients of the Presidential Award for Civic Life

April 10, 2024—For more than 20 years, the Presidential Award for Civic Life program has recognized remarkable graduate and undergraduate students with Tufts University’s highest honor for outstanding civic leadership and service. This year, we are proud to recognize 14 extraordinary individuals from across the university for their achievements. Read More


Fiona Hill to Deliver Commencement Address to the Class of 2024

March 27, 2024—I’m delighted to share with you that Fiona Hill, the chancellor of Durham University and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, will be our Commencement speaker this year.  Read More


Message on TCU Senate Resolutions

March 4, 2024—As you may know, the Tufts Community Union Senate earlier this morning passed three resolutions, initially proposed by the Coalition for Palestinian Liberation, related to the Israel-Hamas war. Read More


Welcome to the Spring Semester

January 16, 2024—View President Kumar's beginning-of-semester message to the Tufts community. Read More


Announcement Regarding Arts and Sciences School Leadership

December 20, 2023—We are writing to share that after 33 years of service to the university, James “Jim” M. Glaser, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences (A&S), will be leaving Tufts at the end of this academic year to become the next executive vice president and provost of Santa Clara University. Read More


Joshua Else Appointed SVP of Advancement

November 13, 2023—It is my pleasure to share with you today the appointment of Joshua Else as the next senior vice president of advancement at Tufts University and will assume his role on February 5, 2024. Read More


Preventing Hate and Upholding Policies on Campus

November 8, 2023—Over the past few weeks, many members of the Tufts community—students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents—have raised concerns related to the climate on campus. Read More


A personal note

October 11, 2023—As more reports and details emerge about the atrocities committed by the terrorist organization Hamas in its attack on Israel this weekend, and I see the harrowing and painful pictures of the suffering of innocent civilians, I feel obliged to write to you again to share my personal thoughts on the situation. Read More


Statement regarding violence in Israel and Gaza

October 10, 2023—I am writing to you today regarding the recent surprise attacks on Israel and the subsequent violence in Gaza and the surrounding region. Read More


Inauguration Address

October 6, 2023—President Kumar delivered the following address at his Installation Ceremony on October 6, 2023. Read More


Eric Johnson to transition to new role

September 12, 2023—I am writing to you today regarding the transition of Eric Johnson, our current Senior Vice President of Advancement, into a new role as a Senior Philanthropic Advisor to me. Read More


Matriculation Address to the Class of 2027

September 5, 2023—President Kumar delivered the following address to the Undergraduate Class of 2027 at the matriculation ceremony on August 30, 2023. Read More


Appointment of Provost and Senior Vice President

July 31, 2023—I am very pleased to write today and announce the appointment of Caroline Genco as the provost and senior vice president of Tufts, effective August 1. Read More


Looking forward

July 5, 2023—It is my privilege to write to you today as the 14th president of Tufts University for the very first time. Read More


Today’s Supreme Court decision

June 29, 2023—As you know, the Supreme Court today ruled in favor of Students for Fair Admissions in their case against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. Read More