MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Building a Franciscan Future… Together, in Our Second Century!
even as we look forward to our second century. Some of these events will look familiar—“centennial-ized” (if that’s a word?!) versions of your favorites—but many will be one-of-a-kind opportunities, including at least
Dear Members of the USF Family,
one world-premiere musical performance.
Welcome to the latest issue of Engaging Mind and
Indeed, the theme for USF’s 2019–2024 strategic
Spirit—our University of St. Francis magazine and one
plan—for which we’re about mid-way through the
way that we strive to remain connected to you:
planning process—is “Building a Franciscan Future…
our alumni, our friends, our parents, our employees
Together, in Our Second Century.” While this explicitly
and our supporters…in short, our USF family.
recognizes that the university is celebrating its centennial, it’s even more important that we do this in
A particular focus of this issue is to begin to lay the
alignment with our mission—as passed on to us by
groundwork for the celebration of the university’s
our founding and sponsoring congregation, the Sisters
100th anniversary in 2020—the planning for which is
of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate. For this reason,
well underway.
our focus is on “Building a Franciscan Future”—which, by the way, is an outgrowth of the theme of the Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities’ Symposium that we hosted last June—as we aspire to be a leading Catholic Franciscan university. The last component of the strategic plan’s theme—
Arvid C. Johnson, Ph.D. President University of St. Francis
which may be easy to overlook but remains critical—is that we’re doing this “Together.” This includes not only our present students, professors and staff members, One key aspect of this planning is our targeted
but also our alumni, friends, community/employer
Centennial Campaign—which looks to raise funds to
partners and donors—each of whom plays a key role
support three key initiatives with which we hope
in realizing our mission…and for whom we are ever
to launch our 100th year of service and leadership.
grateful. (Speaking of donors, please be sure to check
The first is to raise at least $1 million in additional
out the Honor Roll of Donors, which accompanies this
(endowed) scholarship funding for our students, most
year’s annual report at the back of this issue.)
of whom remain the first in their families to attend college. The second is to establish a “Centennial
So pour yourself a cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy
Quad” in the space being vacated by St. Albert
this latest update about what’s happening at your
Hall—linking the campus from the Motherhouse
USF. And, as always, please know that I continue to
to Tower Hall to the Brown Science Hall to the Sullivan
consider myself incredibly blessed to serve as your
Center—with new gathering areas and open spaces.
president and promise to work hard to earn the trust
And, finally, we plan to establish a new “Centennial
that you have placed in me.
Gateway” on the northern edge of the campus— complete with a monument sign and a welcoming statue of Saint Francis. (Please see this issue’s feature article for some exciting sketches of our plans.) Another aspect of the planning will be a series of events—indeed, a whole year’s worth!—in which we’ll celebrate the university’s history and the impact it has on its students and the communities it serves,
Peace and all good things,
