There was a collective sigh of relief last week as Marietta College students finished their final exams. Going like gangbusters throughout fall semester, students and faculty wrapped up the final half of 2022 and are recharging for the start of the spring 2023 semester, which is just weeks away. That’s the thing about life at Marietta — there’s always more to learn, more to create, more to plan, and more to grow. Every semester, students begin a new chapter in their education, tackling a schedule of classes that build on the previous semesters as well as introducing them to new things.

Recently, I went on the Holiday Loft Tour in Marietta. The evening event showcased the upper floors of many downtown buildings and on the West Side’s Maple Street. At one stop, I had a brief conversation with a stranger who asked about Marietta College, noting that she had been following some of the news stories that talk about the “enrollment cliff” coming in a couple of years. She asked how a small college could survive such a thing. At first, I thought, “Lady, I’m just trying to enjoy the holiday decorations and eat a lot of carbs,” but my actual answer was more genuine and accurate: “We’re Pioneers. We’ve been thriving and growing since the late 1700s.”

That’s a very good perspective to keep because, since 1797 and the Muskingum Academy (which became Marietta College in 1835), this institution of higher education has faced many challenges, developed new approaches, and most of all, educated many students so they could become problem solvers, change-makers, and true Pioneers. Imagine creating a college in a territory that was hardly developed, and operating during the Civil War, World Wars I & II, Korea, Vietnam, the Great Depression, recessions, and pandemics — all the while maintaining a robust liberal arts education. The commitment to continue the mission of Marietta College and focus on its core values are at the heart of everything we do. If our past is any reflection of our future, it’s clear that we can adjust to changing environments better than anyone.

Go Pioneers!