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Greetings Bronco Alumni, Donors, and Parents!
Another academic year is behind us and a new class of Broncos is making their way in the world. Each year I am wowed by the caliber of our graduating seniors, and this year is no different. I invite you to peruse some of the stories included below and see for yourself what a talented group of individuals they are.
This is a precarious time for higher education in the U.S. The new policies, agendas, and priorities of our federal government are impacting how we support and serve our students and community. We have seen attacks on academic freedom, a push to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion, tightened restrictions on foreign student visas, and a general upset to the financial footing on which we and other colleges and universities across the nation stand. Yet, in the midst of this instability, Santa Clara University remains strong and deeply committed to its Jesuit, Catholic values. Like the rest of the University, the College of Arts and Sciences continues to support independent thought, value diverse perspectives, honor innovative thinking, and promote a culture of service to others. Academic excellence has long been a pillar of our University and that remains unchanged. We are recruiting and retaining extraordinary faculty and providing an education for our students that nurtures, challenges, and prepares them to become the leaders of tomorrow.
On Sept. 1, the College of Arts and Sciences will welcome 22 new faculty across 14 academic departments who bring a range of expertise, scholarship, and research interests to the College. The cohort includes the successful completion of a faculty cluster hire in LGBTQ+ Studies that will expand our scholarly and creative impact in this field. In addition, four new faculty will join the existing cluster hire in Social Justice and Inequality. As we move forward into the next academic year, we plan to launch searches for more than a dozen additional faculty, who will enhance and expand scholarship and academic opportunity here at Santa Clara.
Our faculty are essential to the education of our students, though their expertise extends far beyond the walls of our classrooms or the boundaries of our campus. This spring as the news of Pope Francis’ passing reached us, we turned to them for context, guidance, and perspective. Assistant Professors Elyse Raby and Nicholas Hayes-Mota from the Department of Religious Studies shared their reflections with those of us in the College and with the community beyond our doors. They helped us process Pope Francis’ death and understand the intricacies of the conclave and the significance of Pope Leo XIV’s election. This is just one of the many examples of how our faculty enrich, enliven, and support our community.
As we look toward the next academic year, we do so with hope and positivity—emboldened by our University’s mission and our collective commitment to making the world a better place.
I wish you a restful and restorative summer. We hope to see you in the fall!
Daniel Press
Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Santa Clara University
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