Our Presence Together
August 30, 2022
Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
It is a privilege and joy to welcome you to the 2022-23 academic year at Loyola University Chicago. It was noticeable to everyone that Welcome Week, New Student Convocation at Lake Shore, and the Mass of the Holy Spirit Sunday evening were filled with excitement, joy, and non-stop activity. As classes begin, that same level of energy is palpable in the quiet intensity of labs, the student-filled classrooms, and within the libraries across all of our campuses. It reminds us that we have much to celebrate and much to be thankful for, appreciating the gift of coming together in community, united in the common purpose of education, inquiry, and deeper understanding.
As we have done for 152 years, our mission brings us together as a place where students from many backgrounds and experiences come to learn and to grow. The symbolism of having our new students pass through the green doors of Cudahy Library not only welcomes them into our campus community but also reminds them and us of all the doors that must be opened in the future. From the pandemic disruptions of the past few years, Loyola has emerged more resilient and more resourceful and with its heart and mission reaffirmed. We gather determined and re-energized to continue our work. We connect and engage. We listen to and learn from each other, look critically at our communities and ourselves to discern the ways we can continue to serve and to grow, mindful that our Jesuit, Catholic mission challenges us to find God in all things, people, and places.
This week, one of the largest and the most diverse undergraduate classes in our University’s history begins, marking the start of an exciting year. On October 1, the Loyola community will welcome the arrival of Loyola’s 25th president, Dr. Mark Reed, an energetic, student-centered leader with deep roots in Jesuit education. Our community will continue implementing a dynamic Strategic Plan steeped in Loyola’s enduring values, with intentional focus on equity, innovation, and excellence. We will enhance and expand our work across disciplines seeking greater understanding and solutions to urgent issues facing our society today.
A university is never static, always continuing to evolve to meet the needs of the times. In the spirit of magis, we continually strive to go deeper, into ourselves and into the world, to seek God in all things, to do more in the service of others as we accompany each other to a hope-filled future. St. Ignatius often ended his letters to Jesuits going to the missions with a phrase we know so well: ite inflammate omnia. As we begin a new semester and academic year, let us strike the sparks of our imaginations, perspectives, talents, and faith traditions to set the world on fire with the light of learning and discovery for future generations.
In appreciation,
Jo Ann Rooney, JD, LLM, EdD
President