President's Letter

Letter from President Towey

Saying goodbye is never easy and this is especially true for Mary and me as we leave this University we so love after nearly nine years of service. How do I describe my sentiments? I think of St. Paul’s famous quote in Second Timothy: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” He wrote those words when his departure was imminent and he was a saint. I am still a work in progress! And so is Ave Maria University! This edition of the AMU magazine documents how far we have come in the short time since Tom Monaghan and those who joined him in 2003 embarked upon the ambitious project of transforming tomato fields in the Southwest Florida wilderness into a thriving Catholic liberal arts college. The success of these years owes to the foundation built by Tom and so many hands, including faculty members, administrators, staff, coaches, and most especially, our students (and now 2,500 alumni).

I am fortunate to be departing at a “high water” mark. Tom did as well when he handed over the keys to me in 2011. I truly believe Ave Maria’s finest days are ahead. My successor will discover the good fortune of being part of the Ave family, and enjoy the many graces that attend work in Our Lady’s name.

Mary and Jim Towey with Board Chariman Michael Timmis

Mary and I leave with a plethora of fond memories and friends too numerous to cite. One merits a mention here. I owe a debt of gratitude to Michael Timmis, the chairman of the Board of Trustees during my tenure, and his wife, Laura, and their beautiful children. They were the first family Mary and I met in 2011 and were instrumental in our decision to sell our home in Maryland (that we had bought just six months earlier!), uproot our children from their new schools, and embark upon this great adventure. Other than asking Mary to marry me, coming to Ave Maria University was the best decision of my life! The success I have enjoyed would not have taken place without Michael’s leadership, the courageous support of my fellow trustees, and most of all, my wife’s presence by my side every step of the way.

My leg of the race ends soon. I can’t wait to see what’s around the corner for Our Lady’s University!

God bless you,

Jim Towey President