Welcome to Fall Semester!
A message to the Saint Mary’s Community
As the campus comes alive again to begin a new semester, I’m pleased to welcome you back to Saint Mary’s and to an academic year that promises to be filled with productive activity, lively interpersonal exchanges, and the satisfaction that results from expanding our minds and opening our hearts.
I’m certain after our students have unpacked their suitcases and decorated their rooms, we will tell each other stories of summer adventures that hopefully included both relaxing and invigorating moments that prepared us for the academic year ahead.
As your Interim President, I will continue to interact with students in my capacity as Resident Director in Claeys North, and I’m already enjoying meeting new students, faculty, and staff around the campus. I have been delighted to engage with some individuals who are new to our community and some who have been with us for varying lengths of time. The Weekend of Welcome was a particularly enjoyable opportunity to interact with new and returning students and their families.
|
I’m especially grateful for the planning, organization and delivery of activities that welcome back to the campus new and old members of our community. Saint Mary’s is humming with energy, enthusiasm, and hope for the year ahead. My personal thanks to all who have played a part in creating such a positive and exhilarating atmosphere. The outstanding hospitality extended to our new students is emblematic of our Lasallian commitment to creating spaces of belonging where learning, interpersonal relationships, and respect for each other can thrive. This fall we welcome more than 500 incoming first-year students—our highest number in five years—and nearly 140 new transfer students. All of these new students will be joining one of the most diverse and best prepared student bodies in our history. We owe a debt of gratitude to our faculty, staff, Christian Brothers, alumni, current students, friends of the College, and the Moraga community for telling the Saint Mary’s story so well. The end result is that students with strong academic qualifications and impressive life goals from diverse backgrounds have chosen to join our community for their collegiate experience. As we begin this 161st year at Saint Mary’s of bringing students, faculty, and staff together to form an educational community, I’m excited to welcome our new faculty and staff to our campus. It is clear from my brief interactions with you that Saint Mary’s will become even stronger and better at what we do with your presence. Welcome! Brother Thomas Jones, FSC Interim President |