Dear Members of the USF Community,
I am grateful for your kind words in recent days. I am hearing, too, that many of you were surprised last week when you received the message from USF Board of Trustees Chair Jack Boland and Vice Chair Mary Del Santo sharing the news that I have decided to resign as president.
For me, the past few months have been a time of reflection as I contemplated bringing my time as president to a close. I had always thought that 10 years was the right tenure, but last year I was especially focused on supporting Eileen Fung as she became interim and then long-term provost. She has settled wonderfully into the role of chief academic officer and No. 2 at the university. There is no good time to leave, but there is the right time. I have been thinking about what we have experienced the past 10 years at the University of San Francisco — both the wins and the worries. I am proud of the good that we have accomplished, with the support and partnership of the board and my cabinet, as well as faculty, librarians, and staff leadership, and our students and alumni. I am fully engaged in continuing this critical work now and in the coming months.
My last day in office will be Dec. 31 of this year, after which I will take a year-long sabbatical. My provincial superior, Sean Carroll, S.J., and I have agreed to this timing and are in conversation about my next assignment.
In addition, I will be working with Donna Davis and Julie Orio on specifics of their new responsibilities as acting senior vice president and vice president of operations, respectively, and with Shannon Gary, as we welcome him to the cabinet as vice president of student life. Our cabinet members — Provost and VP of Academic Affairs Eileen Fung, Chancellor John Fitzgibbons, S.J., VP of Business and Finance Charlie Cross, VP and Chief Information Officer Opinder Bawa, Interim VP of Development Jayme Burke, and VP of Marketing Communications Ellen Ryder — are all continuing their critical work and substantial responsibilities.
News and information about the search for the next president and the appointment of an acting president to serve during the search will be shared with you as soon as possible.
I am so grateful for the notes, messages, emails, and texts many of you have sent me, and the conversations I’ve had with so many of you across campus. Over the coming three months, I will continue to be active and engaged in the business of university operations, campus activities, and the ongoing work with our alumni, donors, and community partners. Please say hello when you see me on campus; I’m especially looking forward to CelebrateUSF festivities Oct. 17-20! Reunion activities, parent workshops, a food and music festival, Viola Davis at the Silk Speaker Series — and much more — will be happening and all members of the community are invited.
A decade as a university president represents a long tenure in higher education today. I have been privileged to work with all of you, and I’m looking forward to the transitional months ahead as we continue our partnership to fulfill our mission and advance our strategic priorities.
Thank you for your commitment to USF and to building our future together.
Sincerely,
Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J.
President