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Dear members of the Clarke Community,
As we move toward the close of the semester, I find myself reflecting on what this spring has revealed about Clarke—who we are, and how we move forward together. This season brings endings and beginnings side by side, and this year holding both at once feels especially complex.
In recent weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to sit with faculty and staff in a series of listening sessions. One of the questions participants have engaged is: What is Clarke’s boldest opportunity in the next year? What I have heard is thoughtful, candid, and, most of all, hopeful. These conversations have had real energy, reflecting a shared commitment to our students, a clear sense of Clarke’s distinctive strengths, and a willingness to imagine a future that builds on both. There is a steady confidence that something meaningful is still taking shape here. I am grateful for the care, honesty, and love for this institution that so many of you brought to those discussions.
That same spirit has been visible across campus this spring. Events like Celebration of Scholarship, Musical Menus, and Night of Hope have showcased the remarkable work of our students, while athletics, student organizations, and Residence Life continue to shape campus life in ways both visible and quietly meaningful. These moments matter not only because of what they celebrate, but because of what they reveal about the kind of community we are.
Some of our most important progress, of course, happens behind the scenes. Our continued work with Credo through the Moving the Needle initiative is beginning to show early results, particularly in how we support students through the “business” aspects of college. Improvements to financial processes, registration, and communication across departments are not small things; together, they shape whether students are able to stay, persist, and succeed. My thanks to the many staff and faculty whose careful, sustained work is making a difference here.
This spring has also been a powerful reminder of the strength of the Clarke community beyond campus. In celebration of Clarke Day, hundreds of donors came together to raise more than $74,000, including nearly $17,000 in matching funds from the BVM Sisters for gifts to the BVM Legacy and Innovation Fund. Just as meaningful were the many alumni and friends who shared their Clarke stories, testifying to the lasting impact of this place.
I remain deeply grateful for the extraordinary generosity of Honmai (Lam) ’58 and Joseph Goodman, whose $5 million gift has strengthened Clarke’s financial foundation in a very tangible way and continues to inspire additional Clarke supporters to give in meaningful ways.
In the coming weeks, we will gather for a number of important celebrations, including Clarke Fest April 25 and our combined Awards and Recognition Ceremony on April 29, where we will honor the accomplishments of our students, faculty, and staff together. These moments are important reminders that even in times of change, there is much to celebrate.
As we approach Commencement on May 9, I am delighted to share that Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Bullock, President Emeritus of the University of Dubuque, will serve as our Commencement speaker this year. Dr. Bullock led his institution through a period of significant challenge just over 25 years ago, making difficult but necessary decisions that ultimately positioned the university to thrive. His experience and perspective feel especially meaningful for Clarke at this moment as a reminder of the possibility of stability and flourishing following hard seasons of transition.
At the same time, I am mindful that this season is asking something real of us. The end of an academic year always carries both conclusion and commencement, with students graduating into what comes next, colleagues completing chapters of their work here, and the University itself continuing to take shape. This year, we are being asked to hold those realities together in a particularly poignant way. There is pride and gratitude, and also a measure of loss. There is uncertainty, and also the beginnings of what comes next.
Although this is not easy work, it speaks deeply to the complexity of the human experience. We do not rush past endings, nor do we lose sight of what is still emerging. We hold both, trusting that what is not yet fully visible will, in time, take form. Our faith reminds us that we are not navigating this unfolding on our own, but are held within a larger purpose that we do not fully control or fully see.
For those who are moving on from Clarke, please know how deeply your presence has mattered here. You have shaped this community in lasting ways. For all of us, I carry a quiet confidence in God’s still-unfolding work among us, for our students and for the University.
Thank you for all that you do, for one another and for the shared work of Clarke.
With gratitude,
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