President's Letter Archives

President’s Letter: Dreamers

By Ed Dadez August 2023

Dear friends,

Like many of the alumni profiled in this magazine, I have learned that hard work, sacrifice, and a commitment toward serving others can make dreams possible.

I grew up as the oldest of six children in a multiracial, Catholic family. My father served in the U.S. Coast Guard, and my mother ran our household, raising my brothers, sisters, and me as we moved from one military base to the next. Money was always tight, but my parents instilled in me the importance of a strong work ethic, family, and faith.

While my parents could offer no financial support, I had a dream of going to college and becoming a physician, making me the third of 30 cousins in my extended family to pursue an education beyond high school. I worked several jobs while I earned two degrees (biology and psychology) from Virginia Commonwealth University. My jobs included serving as a work-study student in the biology lab during my freshmen and sophomore years; serving as a resident assistant during my junior and senior years; and then working three jobs during my fifth year of college, which I took to complete my second major.

While these were challenging times for me, I can now see by looking back that they helped shape my character and were essential to my personal and professional growth. Eventually, because of my work ethic and willingness to serve others, I was presented with opportunities that launched my career in higher education.

In this issue of Spirit Magazine, we profile the stories of fellow dreamers — those who have a vision for a better life and have done the hard work to achieve it.

You’ll read the stories of alumni who faced challenging upbringings, encountered adversity, and overcame odds to achieve their goals. You’ll also find stories about the growth of the university’s Honors Program and our new bachelor’s degree in nursing. These programs are helping to build well-rounded college graduates and solve our world’s problems.

One of the reasons I was excited about the opportunity to serve as Saint Leo University’s 11th president is because of the character and commitment of our students, alumni, faculty, and staff. The university is home to so many who dream big and are working toward creating a better world and a better way of life. They are not only inspiring to be around, but they also are the reason why Saint Leo University will always have a special place in my heart.

May God bless you, and may you always keep dreaming of greater things.

Sincerely,

Ed Dadez, Ph.D.
President

2021

President’s Letter: Love of Learning

By Jeffrey D. Senese November 2021

Dear community,

One of the things I have enjoyed the most about being the father of two is the opportunity to see my children learn and grow over the years. I can remember the excitement on their faces when they first learned to walk, play soccer, and start reading. As they grew older, I marveled at how they took initiative in cultivating their own unique talents and abilities. From their time as infants, to their teenage years and every day as young adults, learning happened quickly and often. It was a central part of their lives.

There is something special about the way in which children learn that I think is important for us to hold on to as a society. Children possess an innate joy and love of learning and are not afraid to pursue an interest that excites them. Yes, they may face challenges on their journey and get discouraged. But when they fall down, they also get right back up, sometimes with a little help and encouragement from a loving parent.

At Saint Leo University, we have an insatiable love of learning, and we want our students to cultivate this love, too, for its many benefits. A relentless passion for learning leads to a richer and more fulfilling life with greater opportunities. We become more well-rounded individuals when we have an understanding of our history, our government, and theoretical principles whose applications have led to scientific and medical discoveries. We grow when we explore new ways of doing things or acquire new skills.

Our fall issue of Spirit Magazine delves into a few of the many examples of Saint Leo University faculty, students, and alumni who share a love of learning and express their enthusiasm in laudable ways. You’ll read about several Saint Leo alumni who have earned top honors for their work in education, as well as learn about a new partnership that is helping the university educate more people.

I hope these stories serve as inspiration for you to continue to make learning an integral part of your life. Some say that as we grow older, there is less we need to learn. I tend to disagree. I think as we progress through life, our responsibility for learning expands. The challenge lies in making it a priority in one’s life.

Peace and may God bless.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey D. Senese, Ph.D.
President

President's Letter

President’s Letter: Trailblazers

By Jeffrey D. Senese October 2020

Dear community,

Some of you may know that I love reading books that broaden my outlook. On many occasions, a well-written book, read in the right moment, has rewarded me with clarity on issues that I have been grappling with in life. Autobiographies and biographies are among the books I find fascinating. There is something to be learned from the lives of the waymakers and trailblazers in our world.

For example, in reading about the life of the late Apple CEO Steve Jobs, we find out that his path to innovate was at times slowed by uphill battles. While many celebrate Jobs for launch of the iMac, iPod, and iPhone, his struggles to bring the famous products to market are often overlooked. Jobs described his return to Apple in 1997 as one of the most difficult periods in his life. Launching a new vision for the company required a meticulous attention to detail and many difficult conversations.

Even in the case of Catholic missionary Mother Teresa, who was able to help thousands of impoverished individuals through her nonprofit organization, Missionaries of Charity, there were struggles. At the height of her charity’s success, she faced harsh criticism in the media for the methods she employed to run the organization.

While trailblazers like Jobs and Mother Teresa are a special kind who come around only every so often, there are countless individuals who live life in the same spirit. They are the everyday people who fight against injustice in their communities, take action in times when others sit by, and pursue ideas that many may fail to discern are worthy of an investment.

In this issue of Spirit Magazine, we take a look at the trailblazing initiatives and people who are part of the Saint Leo University community—from the university’s new Center for Alternative Pathway Programs to an alumna who is advocating for change on a national stage.

I hope you set aside some time and click through the pages of this digital magazine as you would crack open a biography. By reading these stories, I am sure you’ll find engaging content that will help you learn, feel inspired, and offer new insights for your life.

Peace and may God bless.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey D. Senese, Ph.D.
President

President's Letter

President’s Letter: Investing in Ideas

By Jeffrey D. Senese May 2020

Dear community,

Under these historic circumstances, I have found that time, and how we spend it, is even more valuable. There is something to be learned from having to go without the same routines and practices, which we once considered simple pleasures. It reminds us that each day is significant. Indeed, when we return to the next normal, I hope to redouble my efforts to connect and engage the community.

During convocation, I like to share a similar message with our students. I encourage students to use every minute of their time at the university to learn as much as they can and not let it slip away with regrets. To illustrate this point, I started a new tradition where I assign each graduating class a wristwatch. I hold up the watch at the convocation ceremony and tell our students to make the most of the opportunity before them. I tell them, “your time at Saint Leo University starts today.”

Just like the passing minutes on the clock, I think that so much of life can easily tick by if we are not careful. If we do not purposefully make the most of the time we have, then before we know it, we will be left with only the ideas of things we had hoped to do.

Jesus told a parable to illustrate this very point recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. It is a story about a master who gave away bags of talent (or gold) to three men. Two of the three men were able to double their gifts, but the third man, who only received one bag, hid his gift for safekeeping. In the end, the master was not pleased by his actions.

Life is meant for living. We need to use our talents, time, and treasures to our fullest abilities to create and to make the world better than we found it. To paraphrase one of my favorite authors, Henry David Thoreau, the price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.

This newly designed issue of Spirit Magazine, which was carefully developed with you in mind, is dedicated to the theme of making investments in what matters most to you—from ideas, to passions, people, and careers. As you click through the stories, I hope you are able to reflect on where you want to make investments in your life. And maybe you will gain insights on how to achieve them, too. Our goal with the magazine is to continue to provide inspiration and encouragement for living a life with purpose, guided by Saint Leo University’s core values.

Wishing you much strength and courage to pursue the worthy investments in your life and the time to bring them to fruition.

Peace and may God bless,

Jeffrey D. Senese, Ph.D.
President