Thomas has built a remarkable career at the forefront of seismic changes—from the privatization of post-Soviet Eastern Europe to the birth of the smartphone. This June, he returns to campus to share what he's learned with the Class of 2026.
From answering questions about housing and career services to sharing what they love about the University, this all-important welcome crew helps prospective students feel right at home.
It’s practice, and I’ve got an athlete on the wall trying to puzzle out a movement they can make to unlock this particular climb (spoiler alert, it’s slide the right foot up). They keep trying to move their left hand. It’s not working. They’re getting tired, angry even. As their coach, I’m dying. Every part of me wants to yell, “right foot!” I want to relieve them of their frustration. I want to teach them the right way. So, I do. They finish the move, power their way up the rest of the climb, and come over for a palm-stinging high-five. They feel like a good athlete, and I feel like a good coach.
It’s practice, and I’ve got an athlete on the wall trying to puzzle out a movement they can make to unlock this particular climb (spoiler alert, it’s slide the right foot up). They keep trying to move their left hand. It’s not working. They’re getting tired, angry even. As their coach, I’m dying. Every part of me wants to yell, “right foot!” I want to relieve them of their frustration. I want to teach them the right way. So, I do. They finish the move, power their way up the rest of the climb, and come over for a palm-stinging high-five. They feel like a good athlete, and I feel like a good coach.
It’s practice, and I’ve got an athlete on the wall trying to puzzle out a movement they can make to unlock this particular climb (spoiler alert, it’s slide the right foot up). They keep trying to move their left hand. It’s not working. They’re getting tired, angry even. As their coach, I’m dying. Every part of me wants to yell, “right foot!” I want to relieve them of their frustration. I want to teach them the right way. So, I do. They finish the move, power their way up the rest of the climb, and come over for a palm-stinging high-five. They feel like a good athlete, and I feel like a good coach.
It’s practice, and I’ve got an athlete on the wall trying to puzzle out a movement they can make to unlock this particular climb (spoiler alert, it’s slide the right foot up). They keep trying to move their left hand. It’s not working. They’re getting tired, angry even. As their coach, I’m dying. Every part of me wants to yell, “right foot!” I want to relieve them of their frustration. I want to teach them the right way. So, I do. They finish the move, power their way up the rest of the climb, and come over for a palm-stinging high-five. They feel like a good athlete, and I feel like a good coach.
It’s practice, and I’ve got an athlete on the wall trying to puzzle out a movement they can make to unlock this particular climb (spoiler alert, it’s slide the right foot up). They keep trying to move their left hand. It’s not working. They’re getting tired, angry even. As their coach, I’m dying. Every part of me wants to yell, “right foot!” I want to relieve them of their frustration. I want to teach them the right way. So, I do. They finish the move, power their way up the rest of the climb, and come over for a palm-stinging high-five. They feel like a good athlete, and I feel like a good coach.
It’s practice, and I’ve got an athlete on the wall trying to puzzle out a movement they can make to unlock this particular climb (spoiler alert, it’s slide the right foot up). They keep trying to move their left hand. It’s not working. They’re getting tired, angry even. As their coach, I’m dying. Every part of me wants to yell, “right foot!” I want to relieve them of their frustration. I want to teach them the right way. So, I do. They finish the move, power their way up the rest of the climb, and come over for a palm-stinging high-five. They feel like a good athlete, and I feel like a good coach.
