I’m a little late to this, but on Feb. 19, 2015, Fr. Michael E. Engh, S.J., President of Santa Clara University, delivered his State of the University address. It’s a good window into some of the priorities and big ideas of a major Jesuit institution. Thanks to Santa Clara for publishing it. An excerpt:

Recently I read a quotation attributed to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first elected woman head of state in Africa, for country of Liberia: “If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.” There have been a few among us who find our vision for Santa Clara more than startling, and they had cautioned that we are aiming too high.  I have reflected on their comments while also pondering why the world needs Santa Clara University, why global society needs our students and graduates. I have contemplated how the world benefits from the research and creative works of our faculty.  I have considered how the world is enhanced by the hard work of our staff.

Read the full address here.

Matt Emerson is the author of Why Faith? A Journey of Discovery (Paulist Press, 2016). His writing has appeared in numerous publications, including America and The Wall Street Journal.