A message from the president As anyone who drives through our Gates knows, the campus of Mercyhurst University is a landscape that can hold you in awe. And while Mercyhurst at its core is its people – the Sisters of Mercy, our students and alumni, our friends and donors, our faculty and staf – it never hurts to be surrounded by beauty. learn more about the Mercy mission and
the tenets of Catholic higher education. The program is expected to continue and grow each year and also to be infused in our freshman curriculum.
When I assumed the presidency last August, I felt something missing in the sights and sounds that distinguish our campus. The carillon that rang out the hours with Westminster Chimes had fallen silent. It was a tradition that added character and warmth to our beautiful campus and, so, in my frst ofcial act as president, we restored it. I must say that was the easiest thing we did all year! The challenges faced by the university in recent years had taken a toll on our community. We needed to restore our collective spirit while making some tough calls.
In concert with living the mission, I also want to say how important I believe it is that we live and work in an environment where mercy, collegiality and good old- fashioned college spirit reign in abundance. Besides restoring the carillon, we began Hurst Day, where the entire college community comes together for a day of socialization amid games, contests and great food. We gave out deli trays to departments and ofces in thanks for their hard work. We began an Employee Recognition Day to honor employees for their commitment, beginning with fve years of service and up. I am so proud of who we are and where we are going, but I am also humbled by the incredible support I’ve received from everyone during my inaugural year. You’ve sent me cards, emails and all kinds of encouraging greetings. I can’t thank you enough for your hospitality.
There were those who said: It can’t be done!
You can’t streamline the administrative and academic operations in a year! You can’t reconstruct a whole liberal arts curriculum in a year! You can’t change the academic calendar in a year! You can’t bring in a record freshman class with only a year’s preparation! And you certainly can’t raise millions of dollars in a year!
And yet, we did it. We did it with transparency, buy-in and mercy.
The changes have made us a much more nimble university and positioned us to better meet the needs of our students. As much as we now look forward to a promising future, we must never forget our past and the traditions that have made Mercyhurst great. The legacy of the Sisters needs to be sustained, especially as their ranks on our campus diminish. This year we began the Mercy Emissary Program with a cohort of nearly 40 faculty and staf across both our Erie and North East campuses. Members have been taking hour-long classes periodically throughout the year to
Until next time, Carpe Diem .
Michael T. Victor, J.D., LL.D. President, Mercyhurst University
ON THE COVER: John Melody ’90 serves up a pint to old friend John Deasy ’90, now a member of Ireland’s Parliament, at Melody’s U Pick 6 Taphouse in downtown Erie. The two men, who were among the frst Irish students to attend Mercyhurst, got together when Deasy visited Erie earlier this year. (Photo by Caitlin Ewing ’14)
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