Message from the Dean
March 2021
Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,
This is the second of three planned Dean’s messages on the themes of heart, hands
and head. These three themes speak to the formation of the whole human person, a central
tenet of Marquette’s educational mission. Last month’s message focused on the heart,
and this month we turn to the hands.
I interpret the hands in terms of actions, practices and habits. Abba James, one of
the Desert Fathers of early Christianity, said, “we do not need words only; at the
present time, there are many words among people. Rather, we need works, for this is
what is required, not words that do not bear fruit.” A similar sentiment appears in
the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius: “Love ought to show itself in deeds more than in words.” Pope
Francis has called for education that prepares students for action, notably in his
encyclical Laudato Si’. As educators, faculty and staff must not only help prepare students to take action
but must model active engagement in the world.
Examples of such engagement abound in the College of Arts & Sciences. We are promoting
environmental sustainability, advising firefighters on safety and communication practices,
bringing the humanities to bear on global grand challenges, creating low-cost apps
to promote public health, organizing museum exhibits, studying law-enforcement practices,
promoting voter participation and bringing a Marquette education to formerly incarcerated
students. All of this we strive to do, as Samuel Wells puts it in “Rethinking Service,” not for but with others.
In the College, this “with” centers on actions, habits and practices that benefit
students in their continued development, both during and after their time at Marquette.
The work of hearts and hands is connected. This month, the Dean’s Advisory Council
meeting—which includes Department Chairs and Associate Deans—focused on student success.
How might we ensure that all students feel supported and experience a sense of belonging
at Marquette? How might we offer high-impact educational opportunities like internships,
undergraduate research and study away to all students? How might we ensure that more
students benefit from the “big six” experiences that a Gallup study has correlated with post-graduation success? How
might we expand our Professional Formation initiative to ensure that all students
are supported in their vocational discernment and ready to flourish in work, life
and civic engagement?
One shining example of such support is our Arts & Sciences Advising Center. This month, the Advising Center is offering workshops to help faculty address students’
mental health needs and to prepare faculty advisers for the upcoming advising season
as we look toward fall semester. I am so grateful for all of our faculty and staff
and their commitment to student success.
Speaking of fall semester, recently I had the opportunity to call a number of newly
admitted Arts & Sciences students who had been offered Dean’s Scholarships. These
conversations were a real joy; I spoke with students interested in every area of the
College, from Classics and History to Biological Sciences, Criminology, Computer Science
and well beyond. I am so grateful to the many faculty and staff who have participated
in Admissions events, either virtual or in-person. Getting to know our caring community
is a major factor in students’ decision to enroll at Marquette. Thank you. I am likewise
appreciative of faculty colleagues and a student volunteer who participated with me
in a recent panel discussion on The Future of the Humanities. Our audience of alumni and benefactors asked wonderful
questions and showed their ongoing support for our strong humanities programs in the
College. They appreciate how we translate our values into actions, practices and habits.
On the topic of benefactors, and mindful that March is Women’s History Month, I would
like to pay tribute to our College namesake, Helen Way Klingler. Her recognition that our faculty’s research is a crucial part of students’ educational
experience is reflected in the Marquette research awards that also bear her name.
The convergence of research and teaching is another way we put our commitments into
action, connecting hearts and hands.
In closing, let me invoke my January message where I invited all of us to set 3 goals for the semester and then revisit that list
at mid-semester. How are you doing? What’s missing? What’s next? If there is anything
I can do to lend a hand, please reach out. I appreciate hearing from you and exploring ways we can all work together for the
common good.
Sincerely,
Dr. Heidi Bostic Dean, Klingler College of Arts and Sciences
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