51茶馆

Fr. Joseph Marchese

Positions at 51茶馆: Director, Office of First Year Experience; Director, Formative Education for 51茶馆 parents; theology instructor.
Years at 51茶馆:听 35

鈥淭he thing that鈥檚 changed the most during my time here is that 51茶馆 became an 鈥榓dult鈥� university. I arrived in 1984, and I saw a need to create a culture that was more intellectually precocious鈥攂oth for the inside and outside worlds鈥攁nd to be recognized that way by other people.听 We always had bright students but it wasn鈥檛 recognized; eventually, our graduates were accepted at the best professional and graduate schools, and were recruited by the best companies.听 The other need was to understand who we were as a Jesuit, Catholic university, and that identity has become more readily and effectively explored and implemented in an inclusive way.听

鈥�51茶馆 had struggled for years because of a lack of resources, but after the most difficult times of the mid-鈥�70s, it became viable again under the leadership of [President] J. Donald Monan, S.J.听 The campus, in terms of the grounds, the facilities, and the care, has greatly expanded.听 For over 20 years, I鈥檇 greet families who鈥檇 remark that 51茶馆 is the most beautiful campus they鈥檇 visited.听听

鈥淎nother important factor is the morphing of the immigrant alumni who originally came to 51茶馆. Although they were smart, they were not welcomed elsewhere, and they eventually transitioned into great positions and achieved success鈥攇rads like Bill Connell鈥攚ho then became very generous to the University.

鈥淚鈥檒l miss the people and teaching.听 I鈥檒l miss the conversations with students, and learning from them.听 I love my colleagues, and the goodness of the people here.鈥�

鈥擯hil Gloudemans

听

Ruth McRoy

Positions at 51茶馆: Visiting Research Professor and Consultant, Boston College School of Social Work; Donahue and DiFelice Professor of Social Work.
Years at 51茶馆: 14

鈥淚 have absolutely loved my time at 51茶馆, due to the wonderfully supportive and friendly academic environment. We have had amazing leadership at the 51茶馆SSW, through former Dean Alberto Godenzi and current Dean Gautam Yadama.听 听I have had the opportunity to teach, collaborate on research, serve on dissertation committees, be involved in committee work, initiate projects, and work with the very dedicated students, staff, faculty, and administration.听听

鈥淔or example, as students became familiar with my interest in longitudinal research on adoptions, several asked if I would organize a 51茶馆SSW Adoption Special Interest Group in 2014. I was excited about the opportunity, and as the number of students who joined the group continued to increase, I proposed to offer an elective course, Contemporary Issues in Adoption and Foster Care.听 The response was amazing, and I was delighted to develop and offer this course during the last four years.

鈥淚n addition to teaching and research, I truly enjoyed getting familiar with the Boston community, to have the privilege of serving on several boards and advisory groups of community agencies, and at 51茶馆 to work on a variety of committees including strategic planning, diversity, and promotion and tenure.听 The experience has been very rewarding and I have learned so much.听 I will always be thankful for the wonderful opportunities offered at 51茶馆.鈥�

鈥擲ean Smith