Dear Colleagues,

As I conclude month three of my presidency at Santa Clara, the first word that comes to mind is “wow!”  Wow, September flew by like a whirlwind! Wow, it was fabulous to welcome new and returning students and colleagues and to experience Santa Clara’s opening of the academic year traditions for the first time! Wow, move-in weekend was amazing! Our new students and families were so impressed with the warm and coordinated greetings with which we embraced them.  I could not be more appreciative to and proud of the hundreds of faculty and staff who made our welcome weekend so special for everyone.

Speaking of our new students.  As of September 15, we had 1,650 new undergraduate students with an average GPA of 3.73. Some of their demographics include: in-state – 50%, students of color – 55%, first generation – 15%, Pell eligible – 11%, and international – 7.5%. An additional 199 transfer students also joined this year’s record-breaking new class of undergraduate students.

We also welcomed 985 new graduate students this fall. Twenty-six percent of our newest cohort are taking courses in the Leavey School of Business; 16 percent are enrolled in the School of Education and Counseling Psychology; 31 percent are seeking advanced degrees in the School of Engineering; 22 percent are studying law; and 5 percent are examining theology and ministry through the Graduate Pastoral Ministries Program and the Jesuit School of Theology.

Thank you to those of you who attended the Convocation. I am sorry we ran out of time and did not get to all of your questions. Below are the submitted questions that were not posed and my brief responses:

1. What is your favorite book?
I have many favorite books.  They include:  Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese, Being Mortal by Atul Gawande, and The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman

2. What is your favorite movie? or TV Show?
I also have many favorite movies and don’t remember them very well. So, my favorite is the last one I saw, which was Top Gun: Maverick. My favorite recent television show is Ted Lasso.

 3. What is your favorite guilty pleasure?
Sitting on the beach on a warm, sunny day with no umbrella.

 4. What's the toughest decision you've made as a leader?
My decisions to leave University of San Diego and University of St. Thomas, professional communities that I loved.  I consistently advise others that it is time to consider changing jobs when your trajectory of learning and growth slows.  That doesn’t make it easy.

5. Given the changing landscape of higher ed [technology advancement and enrollment down] how do you see SCU continuing to thrive in the next 10 - 20 years?
We will play to our strengths, which include Jesuit values and pedagogy, excellent teaching and scholarship, a passionate and loyal Bronco community, and our place in Silicon Valley.  We also will be agile and adapt our academic programs and student services to new demands and realities.

 6. What are you currently learning?
I am learning more about Ignatian spirituality.  I recently participated in 28 days of meditations based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and in a three-day directed spiritual retreat.  Currently, I am participating in the weekly lunchtime Examen offered by the Division of Mission and Ministry.

Feel free to contact me if one of above questions was yours and you would like to talk about it further.  Speaking of contacting me, I will begin monthly office hours in October. This fall, I will be available for 15-minute appointments during the time frames below. Please schedule by reaching out to Lisa McMahon at lmcmahon@scu.edu.

• October 19, Wednesday, 2:00-4:30
• November 10, Thursday, 2:00-4:30
• December 12, Monday, 9:30-12:00

I hope to see you during the upcoming Inauguration events.  It will be a time to celebrate Santa Clara University.  We will begin the festivities on October 5 with an internal block party, Bronco Boardwalk, for all students, faculty and staff and their families. The celebratory evening will include student performances, carnival games, snacks, silent disco, and more. It will be fun!

On October 6 there will be a Mass of the Holy Spirit followed by a reception. During the Inauguration Ceremony on October 7 we will affirm Santa Clara’s powerful mission, commemorate its past, reflect on the world in which it exists today, and look with great hope and excitement toward its future - a future which I am very excited to create with you!

My best,

Julie Sullivan
President