Dear Friends of the William Winter Institute,

Although I am excited for her new opportunity and the expansion of her work in diversity and inclusion, it is with a heavy heart that I announce the departure of Dr. Susan M. Glisson as executive director of the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation.

Dr. Glisson has spent 20 years at the University of Mississippi, nearly all of them building the Winter Institute from a one-person shoestring operation to its current position: an internationally recognized prime mover in the growing arena of equity, reconciliation, and inclusion. She has cultivated relationships from Biloxi to South Africa with organizations that, like ours, carry the torch of equity and inclusion. She has become such a torch herself, symbolizing understanding and progress. Every bit as important, she has groomed a staff of ten to ably continue the work she began, in 1999. 

We will miss Susan's leadership terribly -- and will miss her terribly -- but we look forward to an enduring friendship as both the Winter Institute and Dr. Glisson continue their vital work with the same goal: a world that appreciates the many and vast benefits that difference brings into our lives.

We have begun the process of launching an official search for the Winter Institute's next executive director, and I am grateful to announce that Dr. Glisson has agreed to serve as an advisor to the search committee.

Meanwhile, Susan and I corresponded about her career shift, and we agreed that it might be useful to share her words with you:

WFW: What motivates your decision to do something new after 20 years at the University of Mississippi?
SG: Twenty years is a long time! I feel as if the Institute is in a great spot regarding its current work, its roster of partnerships and supporters, and its opportunities for growth. So I thought it was a good time to slow my own pace, and help continue the work from the outside.

WFW: What Is your favorite memory of the Institute?
SG: Oh, there are so many, involving so many wonderful people and moments. If you make me choose one, I would say our work in Philadelphia, Miss., that led up to the conviction of the orchestrator of the Freedom Summer murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. Not only did it reveal to the world that Mississippi's citizens have instincts that move our state toward equity and reconciliation, but it shaped, in a lot of ways, the future work of the Institute in communities throughout Mississippi and beyond seeking productive ways to confront the ghosts of their past. It also kindled relationships with some great people, such as Rita Bender, Michael Schwerner's widow, and her husband, Bill Bender, close friends of the Institute to this day.

WFW: What can people do to help?
SG: Pay attention and filter out the vitriol. People want connections: They want to love and support one another, and so much of what we hear and see works against forging these connections. The Winter Institute has in place a wonderful group of folks who transcend the vitriol. They work every day to help our communities and our youth forge lasting, uncommon connections that are vital to our world evolving. So please support the continuation of their important work.

WFW: You have an extensive network of supporters yourself. How do they continue to find you?
SG: I have not adopted Twitter yet, but I'm pretty easily located on Facebook. You can send me a message there, or email me at glisson@sustainableequity.net -- the name of the new shop that I'm setting up with Charles Tucker, the Winter Institute's former associate director.

WFW: Susan, on behalf of the Winter Institute board and staff, and the communities in Mississippi and beyond that you so lovingly serve, we love you and wish you the very best.
SG: Thank you, Governor. You are an inspiration to us all.