I have always loved the energy and optimism that accompanies the beginning of an academic year. The campus comes alive overnight.
New students arrive carrying boxes brimming with belongings and hearts filled with hopes and dreams. Faculty and staff stand ready to welcome and guide them. From Kennedy Union Plaza to Stuart Hall up on the hill, the campus is alive with possibilities.
Over the years, my welcome messages to students have remained remarkably consistent. Perhaps that’s because the Marianist philosophy has always guided my words:
Hold the door for each other.
Show up.
Come to the table.
Respect yourself and others.
Remember that the academic journey is always more rewarding when we travel it together.
In my first year as president, I told the entering class that the complex and often polarizing issues of our time could divide us if we failed to do “the hard work of cultivating respect and listening — truly listening — to one another.” Whether in classrooms, residence halls, or on front porches, meaningful dialogue matters.
That became a recurring theme throughout my presidency. The issues changed, but the message did not. I often encouraged students to embrace the Marianist philosophy of “coming to the table,” a beautiful metaphor for inclusivity, respect, and honoring the dignity of every person, especially those with different perspectives.
One piece of advice occasionally surprised first-year students, but it perfectly reflected the spirit of UD.
Hold the door open.
At the University of Dayton, we hold doors for one another — literally and metaphorically — because we are a community. It is a small act that embodies something larger: kindness and a willingness to make room for others.
I also urged students to embrace the moment, inside and outside the classroom.
Find peace in watching breathtaking sunsets over Stuart Field. Pop into the chapel between classes for a moment of reflection and prayer. Join Best Buddies, Flyer Consulting or any of UD’s 230-plus student organizations. Cheer with the Red Scare, audition for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, or organize a Wiffle Ball team with students on your floor in Marycrest. In my welcome to the Class of 2027, I distilled 35 years of experience in higher education into two simple words: show up.
During the pandemic, amid social unrest and uncertainty, I challenged students to find their voices and help shape a better future.
“Many of you are finding your voice, perhaps for the first time,” I said. “At first, it might be quiet. Then, more resolute. I clearly hear the echo of the voice of the Class of 2024 on this day. The one that says, ‘We can do better. We can imagine a better future, then we can create a more just and equitable society — together.’”
As a Marianist university, we believe in the power of community. “The most successful and joyful people you encounter in life rarely go it alone,” I told one class, adding that as leaders educated in the Marianist way, they’ll learn from others, invite other perspectives, and contribute to something larger than themselves.
To the dismay of some parents, I also frequently encourage students to risk failure. “It’s a learning moment, a time to reach out for help and bounce back stronger, wiser, and more resilient,” I said.
These are life lessons, Marianist style. I hope they help shape the UD journey for our students, but their imprint runs deeper. They are principles for leading lives of meaning.
For our students, that often begins with something as simple as holding the door for each other.
(Photo by Sylvia Stahl)