Communitas
As Thanksgiving approaches, we’re counting the many blessings we are privileged to receive here at the University of Dallas. I want to express my profound gratitude for the ways you, our supporters, alumni and friends, are helping to make those blessings a reality on campus.
Our Shared Blessings: Highlights of 2024
It has been a year of growth, and we have many exciting things to be grateful for. Over the past year …
We graduated the first cohort of our Constantin Scholars Program, a scholarship program which offers support and guidance to first-generation students.
“For me, the Constantin Scholars program meant being able to have a social group and have people I could relate to.”
BLESSING OKEREKE, BS ’24
We dedicated a brand new, state-of-the-art biology lab in honor of Dr. Frank Doe, beloved professor emeritus of biology.
“The Frank Doe Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory … will provide students the ability to apply academic knowledge to real-world scenarios, better preparing future healthcare providers for careers in the medical, nursing and allied health professions.”
BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT CHAIR WILLIAM CODY, PHD, WRITES IN HIS INTRODUCTION TO THE LAB IN TOWER MAGAZINE
We celebrated the 30th anniversary of our Eugene Constantin Campus in Rome by making key improvements to the campus, including the creation of the Gene and Shirley Vilfordi Sports Court, featuring two pickleball courts and 13 street workout circuits.
“My Rome semester was genuinely amazing, allowing me to have personal and spiritual growth. My studies and travels abroad have broadened my perspective of the world and deepened my appreciation for the U.S. and the UD curriculum.”
PETER ’26 REFLECTS ON HIS ROME SEMESTER THIS PAST YEAR
We announced our vision to build a convent for the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia on campus, giving them a permanent home in our community and expressing our gratitude to them for forming our students intellectually and spiritually.
“Without a doubt, my time at the University of Dallas has been the most formative time of my life. I don't believe I would be the Catholic woman, daughter and friend that I am today without this experience. Truly, thank you for your support.”
ELEANOR, BA ’24, EXPRESSES HER GRATITUDE FOR THE GROWTH SHE EXPERIENCED DURING HER FOUR YEARS AT UDALLAS
We have awarded more endowed scholarship funds to students this year than ever before.
Under President Sanford’s leadership, we have added five new scholarships this year, bringing the total of new endowed scholarships to 25 during his presidency.
“After working so hard to try and put myself through school, I came to the realization that I wouldn’t be able to afford to continue without extra funding. This scholarship is a huge part of why I was able to continue on to graduation in May. Thank you so much.”
CLARE, BA ’24, IS GIVING BACK TO OTHER STUDENTS AS A HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER
As we turn to God to give thanks this season, know that you are among the reasons for our gratitude here at the University of Dallas. Wishing you a Thanksgiving surrounded by family and friends and filled with your own spirit of gratitude.
Happy Thanksgiving,
The weekend of Sept. 27 - 29 was a special time as the University of Dallas campus was once again filled with the excitement of Alumni and Family Weekend. From reconnecting with old friends to making new memories, it was a true celebration of our vibrant community. If you couldn’t join us, don’t worry — you can still be part of the experience! Watch the recap video, and click here to browse photos and discover fun facts for a glimpse of the unforgettable excitement!
One of the major highlights of the weekend was the unveiling of two exciting campus renovations: the Gorman Lecture Hall and the Frank Doe Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory. Completed over the summer, these upgrades have already begun transforming the learning experience for our students. The renovated Gorman Lecture Hall better accommodates students while respecting the building’s original design, and the cutting-edge advancements in the new laboratory provide state-of-the-art tools for hands-on research and scientific exploration. Check out more about these renovations here.
These transformative projects were made possible thanks to the generosity of our UDallas community. If you're inspired by these renovations and are specifically interested in contributing to future classroom or lab renovations, simply reply to this email to get in touch with me.
You're also welcome to support other areas across the university. Every gift, no matter the size, propels our students and faculty in the pursuit of wisdom, truth and virtue.
With Gratitude,
Is happiness a choice, a place, a feeling? University of Dallas students know the answer to this question. The Princeton Review recently ranked UDallas students the fourth happiest student body in America in its 2024 Best Colleges ranking. I'm proud to say UDallas has the happiest students at a Catholic college or university anywhere, and the happiest of any school in Texas! Surveyed students responded to the statement, “I am happy at my school,” a critical component of student wellness — emotional, physical, social and spiritual. As the happiest American Catholic university, our faculty proudly develop and lead students to a life well lived.
“Rome semester … every minute of it is my happiest UD memory!”
– BELINDA, CLASS OF 1996
“At UDallas, our happiness comes from the strong sense of community and friendship,
the enriching education, and the presence of the Eucharist.”
– CATHERINE, CLASS OF 2025
“We are happy because we all share a meaningful purpose here, driven by both the challenging
academics and close-knit community.”
– ALETHEA, CLASS OF 2025
Let's face it: the Core cultivates happiness. The literary track follows centuries of investigation into what it means to be happy, from classical theories of virtue to Christian devotion to God. Meanwhile, science and art classes give students the chance to find joy in God’s creations and their own.
It is impossible not to smile when you walk through Haggar University Center and hear a student begin to spontaneously play the piano, or see faculty lead classes outside on the lawn, in the Constantin Garden or on the steps of Cardinal Farrell Hall, or witness students interact with a joyful member of one of our religious communities. Thanks to the enthusiasm of our alumni volunteers, not to mention the simple neighborliness of our alumni community, we get to see that happiness grow after graduation as well.
With Gratitude,
P.S. Watch former Due Santi academic director, associate professor of theology and Associate Provost John Norris, PhD, BA ’84, and former Due Santi chaplain and Associate Professor Emeritus of Philosophy Fr. James Lehrberger, OCist, PhD ’83, share the impact of faith on a student’s Rome semester in this video.
University of Dallas students are faithful, service-oriented and focused on each other. As students return to campus, we welcome a new chaplain, Friar Mariano D. Veliz, OP. Friar Mariano most recently served in Baton Rouge.
Behind the scenes, Campus Ministry makes a difference in student life and has created an organic spiritual fervor on campus. Led by Deacon Ryan Sales, director of campus ministry, who came to UDallas two years ago, the office meets the needs of Catholics and non-Catholics. Deacon Ryan also leads faith formation for men and organizes retreats. Karen Bless, CV, BA ’15, is assistant to the chaplain and minister for liturgy and sacraments. Shelby Ponikiewski, BA ’15, leads outreach efforts and faith formation for women. This small team touches students by hosting retreats, building community and directing opportunities for students to serve the Church.
Campus Ministry is building spiritual leaders by intentionally forming students to lead others through three retreats. Genesis, led by upperclassmen, is for freshmen to jumpstart their social network. The Winter Retreat centers all students as they begin the spring semester. Lastly, the Exodus Retreat prepares seniors for life after college.
Building community among the student body creates a supportive and well-rounded learning environment. This ministry seeks to connect with all students, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, through meeting one-on-one, sharing snacks in the Campus Ministry office, enjoying weekly meals during Open Anselm dinner nights and attending various groups directed to address the needs of men and women, like Blessed Is She and University of Dallas Men’s Society.
In addition to service at the Church of Incarnation as sacristans, readers, altar servers and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, UDallas students serve those in need – such as families recovering from natural disasters in Louisiana, the poor and dying in Calcutta, or the most vulnerable through clubs like Crusaders for Life.
Brooke (Morgan) Dodd, BA ’24, shared, “Campus Ministry offers these opportunities while being quietly consistent about their faith, allowing people around them to spark their own curiosity, ask their own questions and gain a deeper understanding.” The next time that you are on campus, please stop by the second floor of SB Hall to see firsthand this life-changing team. You will certainly feel the deep faith and love that our students experience daily.
With Gratitude,
P.S. Rome is a transformational time in a student’s life. About a third of students who
approach Campus Ministry to begin the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults do so
after a conversion experience during the Rome Program. In celebration of the 30th
anniversary of the Eugene Constantin Campus, take a look at the second video, “The Path to Discover: Exploring Academics with Sybil Novinski and William Frank.”
This fall the University of Dallas will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the permanent home for our Rome Program. The Eugene Constantin Campus, also known as Due Santi, is foundational to the undergraduate experience and is where the Core Curriculum comes alive.
The storied site has been the perfect place for our students to immerse themselves in the history of Western civilization and the Christian faith. The ancient city below the campus is where the body of Caesar Augustus lay in state; the nearby Appian Way, “queen of the long roads,” was once grimly galleried by the crucified army of Spartacus; the name of the place, Due Santi, comes from the tradition that Peter and Paul both traveled through the area on their way to Rome. It has its place in modern history as well. The university received the villa from a family with such a love for America that they preserved the damage left by Allied bombers in World War II as a memorial to valor and victory.
Although the villa became a campus, the family atmosphere remains. The Due Santi campus provides dedicated classrooms and recreational spaces, a chapel, an outdoor theater and much more. It creates traditions like the Greek Olympics, sows lifelong friendships at the Cap Bar and forno, presents opportunities to participate in Italian culture through such experiences as the vineyard harvest, and transforms the spiritual lives of our students. Campus leaders Robert Galecke, Retired Executive Vice President and former Interim President, and Randy Irlbeck, BS ’86, Due Santi Campus Director and Construction Coordinator, reminisce on the foundational beginnings of the campus in the first of four videos celebrating A Legacy of Memories for Future Generations.
Make plans to join us as we celebrate this milestone during Alumni & Family Weekend, Sept. 27-29. Former Director and Dean of the Rome Program Wayne Ambler, PhD, will return to campus for a Rome-focused lecture: “Rome: A Tale of Three Cities and their Eternal Questions.” Anthony Nussmeier, PhD, associate professor of Italian, and Jon Paul Heyne, PhD, BA ’10, assistant professor of history, will lock horns in this year’s Alumni & Family Weekend debate: “Which is the better Italian City: Florence or Venice?” Stay tuned for more Rome-focused activities during this week for alumni and families to reconnect.
The Eugene Constantin Campus is not just a facility. It is a living museum, a treasure and a home. Thanks to the courage of past leaders who paved the way, our students can explore the cradle of Western civilization firsthand, form lifelong friendships and follow in the footsteps of Peter and Paul. We are thankful for the commitment of our supporters who made this transformational education possible for tens of thousands of students and many more to come.
With Gratitude,
University of Dallas biology students have an experience unlike most undergraduates at peer institutions: They conduct significant research. This August, students will see equipment updates and a major lab renovation that will only add to their post-graduation success.
Following its long-time support of UD’s chemistry department and student research programs, the Welch Foundation awarded a grant to purchase a Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS). This new instrument will add quantitative and qualitative analysis to the existing instrumentation suite and will broaden the scope of the student experience.
Thanks to several key donors, biology lab room 108 is also undergoing a state-of-the-art, high-quality renovation that will equip the facility for virtual simulation, augmented reality and 3D imaging. The newly designed lab will position students to apply academic knowledge to real-world scenarios, better preparing future healthcare professionals for careers in medicine, nursing and allied health professions. The lab will feature glass walls to provide real-time observation opportunities that will bolster student interest in the sciences and allow future UD students to see the potential of a UD degree.
Please join us during Alumni & Family Weekend (Sept. 27 - 29) and see firsthand how this new space and equipment will transform lives and the future medical community.
With Gratitude,
The month of May is one of transition and progression. The academic year ends, graduates become alumni, students return home or to summer plans, faculty prepare to research and rejuvenate, and the campus prepares for students to return in August.
The Class of 2024 share a special bond, having started college life in the middle of the pandemic. At Convocation, where departments confer awards, the senior class also selects one faculty member to give an address. Beloved Professor of Physics Richard Olenick, PhD, advised the class to “Look Up” and reminded them that UD is a place where minds meet and make beautiful things happen.
On Sunday, May 12, the Toyota Music Factory was full of proud families, faculty members and students to celebrate the 65th Commencement ceremony. Nancy Cain Marcus Robertson, MA ’00 PhD ’03, painted a beautiful literary picture of UD’s founding, building and expansion, and of the graduate’s ultimate educational inheritance.
Meanwhile, the university is initiating several exciting projects this summer to enhance and beautify our campus. In June, UD will start an overhaul of retail dining on the first floor of Haggar University Center. This will include some modest upgrades to the infrastructure of the Cap Bar — but don't worry; the location, aesthetic and prices will not change — and a more substantial renovation of the former bookstore and UDPD site to support expanded community and dining opportunities. A few new retail dining and grab/go stations will be set up, in addition to expanded seating around the Cap Bar, and a private dining room for events will be created.
Thanks to generous support during the 2024 Cor Challenge, UD will also add a large Italian pizza oven to the Rathskeller patio, similar to what you would see in a Roman trattoria. The Due Santi and Irving campuses will now have another connection insofar as students on both campuses will be able to rent out the forno and enjoy homemade pizza together. Lastly, we are upgrading some of the grounds around the Shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe, including adding some trees and shrubs to create a more secluded spot for prayer, beautifying the flowers and landscaping, and adding a low wall around Our Lady.
In spring, we see growth of all kinds, from plants, to ideas, to adventures, to dreams. To echo a quote from Dr. Robertson’s commencement address taken from John 18:37: “Whoever seeks the truth, hears my voice.” May we be reminded of this as we enter this new season.
With Gratitude,
Research opens our eyes to possibilities. It stretches us, encourages us to learn, experience, test and hope for improvements for mankind.
On Monday, April 8, 2024, more than 2,000 attendees — including alumni, students,
faculty, staff and their families — shared a once in a generation experience together
on our Irving campus. Led by Professor of Physics Richard Olenick, UD’s Eclipse Celebration:
Out of the Darkness and Into the Light brought the campus together to enjoy the eclipse
and even gave attendees the chance to observe it through specialized telescopes.
Our esteemed faculty, sometimes employing the help of students, made the eclipse a
true intellectual experience. Neighboring high school students visited campus and
measured UVA and UVB levels leading up to totality. Professors from several departments
gave presentations that approached the eclipse from their various disciplines, with
topics that included indigenous American experiences of eclipses, the science and
superstition of eclipses in the ancient classical world, and plant behavior during
eclipses, to name a few. Visiting physicists Dr. Michele Montgomery and Dr. Robert
Haaser, BS ’95, shared their research to allow guests to best understand the significance
of the day. A longtime retired member of the Braniff library described the day as
a “majestic, celestial phenomenon of a lifetime.”
Soon, University of Dallas undergraduates will share their own research and scholarly investigations at the fourth annual Undergraduate Research Symposium on April 19, 2024. This interdisciplinary showcase is an example of the fruitful and personal relationship that our students and faculty share. Opportunities like this lead to exceptional placement success in postgraduate programs. As of today, 35 oral and poster presentations are planned, spanning the role of mathematics in human intellectual life to coral restoration methods. More than 15 alumni judges have agreed to lend their expertise and time.
Thank you for joining us as we endeavor to analyze, explore, inquire and investigate what it means to renew culture.
With Gratitude,
"The University of Dallas is the university of no compromises."
So stated Dr. Jonathan J. Sanford during an interview with Catholic Answers this past January, and I couldn’t agree more. You can also listen to similar interviews with JSerra Catholic High School and The Heights School from this past month. Dr. Sanford is sharing with a larger audience what we all know about our beloved school: UD is a place that doesn’t compromise on its Catholic identity, the rigor of its Core Curriculum, or the excellence it pursues and demands of itself.
This university is a place where you don’t have to choose between an excellent education and a nurturing, faithful environment. You don’t need to put your highest ideals aside to get ahead in class or be accepted among friends. In fact, you don’t even have to compromise between pursuing a major you love and one that will “get you a job.” Prospective employers personally contact the university to ask for majors of all disciplines to intern for them. They want to hire people who can think clearly and creatively, write persuasively and explain complex concepts to others. UD does not only give students tools for their next step, but also helps them pursue a life of excellence unweakened by compromise.
The university’s upcoming Cor Challenge fundraiser, March 19 - 23, is a great opportunity to be involved in our striving to never compromise. As alumni and friends give to the campaign throughout the week, there will be various goals along the way that will unlock sponsorships for much-needed campus improvement projects. We are very excited to provide this feature that doesn’t restrict our donors to choose between multiple needs but instead allows them to support the university with even greater impact. There will even be a challenge for 68 alumni to commit to a monthly gift of $50 or more in honor of UD’s 68 years of teaching. I encourage you to be on the lookout for our emails inviting you to take part in the Cor Challenge, and I thank you in advance for supporting our call to magnanimity.
At the “university of no compromises”, students can become the person God meant them to be: well-formed, well-educated and ready to lean into the challenge of renewing our culture. Our church and our country need more of what UD offers. The wisdom, truth and virtue of UD need to reach and teach more people. Thank you for helping us spread the word.
With Gratitude,