Dear Members of the University Community,

As the year comes to an end, so too does Fr. Dennis Smolarski’s appointment as director of campus ministry. Fr. Smolarski will be concluding his appointment as director on July 1 and will go on his planned sabbatical. Campus Ministry will transition to the new Division of Mission and Ministry, led by our incoming vice president for mission and ministry, Alison Benders. 

Since 2018, Fr. Smolarski led Campus Ministry during some of the most difficult times in our history, when our community was in great need of spiritual consolation, a shoulder to lean on and an ear to listen to our stories - both painful and joy-filled. He and his team found ways to offer time and space for reflection, ranging from a focus on our innermost selves to global injustices around racism, migration and other topics. He and the Campus Ministry staff accompanied us as we coped with upheavals in student life, work life, and communal grief. As director, Fr. Smolarski has served our community faithfully and accompanied students and others in their spiritual journeys with a wonderful generosity. We are grateful to Fr. Smolarski who, after his well-deserved sabbatical, will return to his faculty role as professor in the Department of Math and Computer Science. 

Thank you Fr. Smolarski!

Sincerely,

Lisa A. Kloppenberg
Acting President