You Say Goodbye; I Say Hello
May 4, 2026
"You say goodbye, and I say hello."
— "Hello, Goodbye," the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour album
Good Morning BW,
As our students enter final exams this week and the semester comes to a close, it's fitting to borrow a line from the Beatles: "You say goodbye, and I say hello." We say goodbye to late nights, final projects, and great accomplishments in and outside the classroom — but we also say hello to well-deserved summer rest and renewal, and to the next chapter of learning and progress ahead.
On Saturday night, Peggy and I attended the BW Beatles Magical Mystery Tour concert performed by our students. The BW Beatles is the oldest collegiate Beatles Band in the nation, and each year the group performs a different Beatles album. Band Co-Leaders Brooke Little and Maddie Ferguson, Social Media Manager Sasha Geisser, and the other talented members of the 10-member band were joined by 20 student orchestra members. Peggy and I grew up listening to every Beatles album, so it was a magical tour of some of our favorite songs.
Our 18th OVATION Day was nothing short of extraordinary. It brought together outstanding student work from across disciplines, programs, and experiences — an inspiring showcase of creativity, research, and achievement. My sincere thanks go to our community partners and sponsors, including Smith & Oby and Margaret W. Wong & Associates, as well as the dedicated faculty and staff who served on our OVATION planning committees. This day is a powerful expression of our commitment to preparing students to be Leader-Ready, Career-Ready, and Future-Ready.
Last week, thanks to Board Member David Jenkins '97, President of the Haslam Sports Group, Peggy and I had the honor of representing BW, along with Steve Thompson, Director of Athletics, and Lacey Kogelnik, Chief of Staff /VP of Career Readiness, at the groundbreaking for the Cleveland Browns new stadium, just minutes from our campus. As neighbors in Berea and valued partners, the Browns create meaningful opportunities for our students through internships, careers, and connections.
This week culminates in one of our most meaningful traditions — Commencement on Saturday, May 9. We will celebrate more than 600 graduates, including, for the first time, students from our Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. The need for professionals in this field continues to grow, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a 25% increase in counseling-related jobs by 2029. BW is proud to be part of the solution as our first class of talented graduates enter the field.
We are also honored to welcome Berea Mayor Cyril Kleem as our commencement speaker — a reflection of the strong and enduring partnership between our university and our hometown.
Thank you for all you do to make Baldwin Wallace such a special place. Let's finish the semester together with pride, gratitude, and momentum.
With appreciation,
Lee Fisher
President, Baldwin Wallace University