--- title: Welcoming the Spring 2021 Semester date: 2021-01-25T03:00:00-05:00 author: Mei Lu canonical_url: "https://president.umd.edu/news/welcoming-spring-2021-semester" section: News --- # Welcoming the Spring 2021 Semester *January 25, 2021* — by Mei Lu > It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the Spring 2021 semester. 2020 was a difficult year and one that will never be forgotten. We had to learn new ways to connect when we couldn’t do so in person. But as a community, we prevailed.  Letter from President Darryll J. Pines Dear Terrapins, It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the Spring 2021 semester. 2020 was a difficult year and one that will never be forgotten. We had to learn new ways to connect when we couldn’t do so in person. But as a community, we prevailed. While we will continue to face the grand challenges of our time, I hope that we will join together as a community to mend from an election that deeply divided our country, continue to fight against racial injustice, and do everything we can to stop the spread of COVID-19. Every single one of us plays a vital role within our dynamic academic and research community. As we look ahead to the spring semester, I ask that you continue to follow our 4 Maryland guidelines -- practice physical distancing, wash your hands frequently, stay home if you are sick, and most importantly, wear your mask. **We all must play an active role in creating the world we want.** Stay TerrapinStrong, ![Darryll J. Pines](https://d2xiydvvjvzxk4.cloudfront.net/president/archive/default/files/inline-images/Darryll%20J.%20Pines%20Signature_0.png) **Darryll J. Pines** *President, University of Maryland* He/Him/His Twitter: [**@President\_Pines**](https://twitter.com/President_Pines) Instagram: **[@President\_Pines](https://www.instagram.com/President_Pines/)**