It’s been a wonderful semester here at Loyola. There is a distinct energy on the campus, in the classroom, and in the faces and souls of the members of our community. Combine that with our relationship to our city, our ideal location, our prodigious creativity, our Catholic Jesuit values and mission–and this place is unlike any other in the world.

I’m honored to be here.

And, I’m excited to have had the chance to share with you some of our stories over the last few months. Many more to come.

I’ve learned that there is great diversity of people who read my entries–prospective students, their parents, current students, their parents, staff, faculty, alumni, my friends, my dad.

To all of you: I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and joyous New Year.

Saint Ignatius Loyola teaches us to do and then reflect, do-reflect, do-reflect. Our actions are strengthened by contemplation, and our discernment is augmented by experience. I hope that you will have the time over the next few days to reflect on your 2008. Filled with history, I hope that all of us will be able to apply our best selves to problems and opportunities in the new year.

See you in 2009!

Sal