President's Blog: From the Heart

By Eric F. Spina

Ever notice that the “of” in the University of Dayton wordmark and logo is italicized?

While it’s a bit understated, we can never overstate its meaning: the University of Dayton is of the city of Dayton, our home and our namesake. It’s innate to who we are. If you are “of” a place, you carry its character and its essence with you, and we do indeed mirror the grit, resilience, and friendliness that are hallmarks of the City of Dayton.

We are rooted in this community, and I’ve often described our bond as a sacred obligation. And it quite literally is, since the relationship began with the exchange of a religious medal of St. Joseph and a promise.

I love the story of how Father Leo Meyer, S.M., offered the medal to Dayton landowner John Stuart as a pledge for payment for his 125-acre Dewberry Farm. The rest, as they say, is history. Just a few months later, St. Mary’s School for Boys opened its doors to 14 primary students. The school’s names and offerings changed over the next 70 years until it was incorporated more than a century ago in 1920 as the University of Dayton.

Our sense of place in the City of Dayton gives us roots. It’s where we live and work — and where we strive to partner with other people and organizations to support the common good in our shared home. This is true for a variety of domains — economic development and job growth, research and innovation intended to solve key problems, the growth and strengthening of faith communities, and more.

And, given our primary mission, our history is replete with examples of partnerships that advance the education of our broader community.

Brother Ray Fitz, S.M., could have simply taught leadership concepts in the classroom when he stepped down as the longest-serving president in UD’s history. Instead, he made the Dayton community a classroom for students to learn firsthand how to become civically engaged leaders in the Marianist standard. The Fitz Center for Leadership in Community, in my eyes, is one of the best models in the country for educating students to be community builders.

Dr. Tom Lasley, former dean of the School of Education and Health Sciences, in collaboration with The Dayton Foundation, founded Learn to Earn, which works to ensure that all of Dayton’s children are ready to learn when they enter kindergarten and ready to earn with the education and skills they need for the demands of the workplace of the future. This month, Tom received a national award from StriveTogether as a “cradle to career” champion who has worked to reduce gaps in academic achievement and help every child succeed in school and in life.

That’s the University of Dayton’s focus, too, in the community. The UD Sinclair Academy, now in its seventh year, is putting a bachelor’s degree within reach of far more students than ever before. Since nearly 90 percent of Sinclair Community College graduates stay in the Dayton region, this program is producing a more educated workforce for our community.

As a final example, I note that the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Dayton (UDOLLI) is in its 29^th year of providing intellectual and cultural exploration for Daytonians 50 years of age or older, with more than 200 courses offered this year alone.

So, the next time you spot our logo, pay special attention to of, a small word with deep meaning. The University of Dayton is proudly of the city of Dayton.