Humble, but more …

Humility is a Marianist thing. 

Marianist brothers Timothy Driscoll, Bernie Ploeger ’71 and Edward Violett are members of UD’s board of trustees. (UD’s governing documents dictate that at least 20% of the board be members of the Society of Mary; eight of the 36 current trustees are members of the society.)

And, of course, they are humble. Driscoll points out that he has no experience working in higher education. Ploeger, a mathematician, notes that being one wasn’t necessarily a qualification for his working in financial affairs: “I had to educate myself; I try not to overestimate what I know.” Violett, a councilor for the Marianist Province of the United States, admits that in that role he offers advice but adds it’s the provincial administration that has to follow up.

They don’t see it as part of their roles to proclaim their substantial talent and commitment to their work, the Society of Mary and the University of Dayton.

Driscoll, however, is provincial of the Society of Mary’s Meribah Province on Long Island, which operates primary and secondary schools. In two secondary schools he has taught art, English and religion. On UD’s board, he said, “I contribute a concern for Marianist education and mission.” Besides bringing a concern, he brings real-world experience with precollege students to his service on the executive committee of UD’s board; the executive committee acts on behalf of the board between regular meetings.

Ploeger has served as UD vice president for administration and finance, as president of Chaminade University and, currently, as assistant provincial of the Marianist Province of the United States.

Violett is vice president and executive director of the Marianist Center in Honolulu. Previously he was provost of a small health care university in Louisiana. His most formative role, he said, was in building the Marianist presence in India, including its service to the poor and the establishment of a UD degree program for young Marianists there. Being humble, he doesn’t drop into conversation that he served on the Marianist General Council in Rome or holds a doctorate from the London School of Economics.

“The starting points of our service on boards,” Ploeger said, “are our Marianist traditions and Rule of Life. Education is a privileged means of sharing that.” He emphasized the Marianist prayer-based tradition of partnership with lay people. “It’s a shared enterprise.”

“At UD,” Driscoll said, “people embrace a family spirit. The student neighborhood is a literal embodiment of family spirit.” He is impressed by the recent increased student interest in living together in faith-based communities. He also noted that a year ago, the UD orchestra visited New York and not only gave concerts but also performed with students from the schools in the Meribah Province; more than 100 students — primary, secondary, collegiate — played together. “That spoke to me of the Marianist family,” Driscoll said.

“At UD, people embrace a family spirit. The student neighborhood is a literal embodiment of family spirit ... That spoke to me of the Marianist family."

Characteristic of the Marianist family (besides humility) is saying “yes” as Mary did at the Annunciation. It’s a not a one-and-done action, Violett observed: “You have to tell yourself that day after day, year after year.”

Service, such as that the Marianists provide on the board of trustees, “is volunteerism,” Violett said. “But it’s also a duty. This is what we signed up to do. When you agreed to the mission, you agreed to this. We bring a presence. But we also bring a perspective of being formed in the Marianist philosophy of education, of life, of mission, of helping people capture that.”

He recalled an old Marianist saying: “Marianist spirit is caught, not taught.”