I’m a little late to this, but on Feb. 19, 2015, Fr. Michael E. Engh, S.J., President of Santa Clara University, delivered his State of the University address. It’s a good window into some of the priorities and big ideas of a major Jesuit institution. Thanks to Santa Clara for publishing it. An excerpt:

Recently I read a quotation attributed to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first elected woman head of state in Africa, for country of Liberia: “If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.” There have been a few among us who find our vision for Santa Clara more than startling, and they had cautioned that we are aiming too high.  I have reflected on their comments while also pondering why the world needs Santa Clara University, why global society needs our students and graduates. I have contemplated how the world benefits from the research and creative works of our faculty.  I have considered how the world is enhanced by the hard work of our staff.

Read the full address here.

Matt Emerson's essays have appeared in a number of publications, including America, Commonweal, and the Wall Street Journal. The Catholic Press Association named his September 2012 essay "Help Their Unbelief," published in America, as the "best essay" in the category of national general interest magazine for 2012. He is the author of the book Why Faith? A Journey of Discovery (Paulist Press 2016).Articles:Fruitful Searching (Jan. 5-12, 2015)Preambles for Faith (May 13, 2013)Help Their Unbelief (Sept. 10, 2012)Posts at The Ignatian Educator