Seeing University of Dayton students discover their passions and push themselves to achieve their dreams is one of my greatest joys as president. Correction. It is my greatest joy.

I love visiting alumni around the country, but I also get a kick out of hanging out (virtually) on their porches, too. During one recent porch talk, moderator Andrew Wong '19, of the alumni community in Charlotte, North Carolina, asked me to name the "top five things alumni need to know in order to be in the know."

I was curious about the president's medallion that my predecessor Dan Curran left for me to wear during graduation ceremonies, but I didn’t know its history or meaning. When Neomi De Anda, associate professor of religious studies, tweeted after the ceremony, "Please tell us about your medal," I knew I had some homework.