There’s a consensus about University of Dayton President Eric F. Spina among those who have worked with him, listened to him or just liked his daily posts on Instagram: He’s authentic.
As I listened to our colleague Daria Graham defend her 193-page doctoral dissertation this spring, I couldn’t help but sneak a peek every few minutes at her mother, who beamed with pride and love. I felt a wave of emotion, too, a sense of institutional pride as one of our own demonstrated her scholarly excellence and showed what is possible with single-minded focus and determination.
Is there any other university in the country that has as high a level of participation and engagement on a day reserved for celebration of student research and creative work? As I walked into the RecPlex, I felt such a surge of creative energy as row after row of students mingled around their posters, learning and teaching, engaging and building community.
As we approach the 50th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's assassination, I’m struck by two undeniable facts. We are a nation in which far too many of us are still facing injustice. This is a time of reflection and action, not celebration.
On his first day as president, Eric F. Spina emphasized his commitment to Catholic, Marianist traditions, engagement with the greater community, support for students and faculty, and research excellence.