A Message from President Aceves

Dear Colleagues, 

Alumni relations play a crucial role in cultivating a resilient and lasting bond between Regis University and its graduates. Going beyond the academic journey, these relations serve as a continuous bridge, nurturing a lifelong connection that extends well beyond the conferral of degrees - these connections form a dynamic community. Far from being solely rooted in the past, alumni relations represent a pathway to the present and future success of graduates. To gain deeper insights into the significance of alumni engagement, I sought the perspective of Dave Law, Director of Alumni Engagement. Here is what he shared.

“For over 20 years I had the privilege of welcoming new traditional undergrads to Regis – introducing them to the University mission and our Jesuit values, helping them find a sense of place, kindling a sense of belonging, and building encounters of community.  Wide-eyed, excited, anxious, and exhausted, Regis was in those moments a destination – a place that they had worked hard to get to and invested much of their time, energy and funds to arrive at.  Of course, university is one of many destinations along a lifelong journey.  As a result, on day one, our faculty, staff and administration began to invite our students into that reality – challenging them to consider what their gifts are, what the world needs of them, what they are called to do.  And just as they get some traction on the pursuit of those deeper questions – having lived in community, wrestled with wickedly complex issues, encountered voices and experiences vastly different from theirs – comes Commencement.  Of course, that celebrated moment also feels like a destination and of course that couldn’t be farther from the truth either – though that too is often accompanied by wide eyes, excitement, anxiety, and exhaustion.  (Note – this of course is a journey that all of our students go through in some fashion – undergraduate, graduate, traditional, post-traditional.) 

With Commencement arrives the distinction of being a Regis alum and the opportunity to live out loud those things we introduced them to in those formative years of university — to operationalize values like Magis, Cura Personalis, and a calling to live with and for others. In my Student Affairs role, drop-in visits, Facebook and LinkedIn provided glimpses of how strongly that formation has taken hold in their lives and how they impact the world as a result. In my new role in alumni engagement, that understanding has only been deepened, broadened and affirmed through the many conversations and encounters that I have already had. Certainly, that is the most important role of our alumni; to, in the words of Ignatius, ‘go forth and set the world on fire.’

At the same time, in reflecting upon this question, I have grown to realize how much of what constitutes Regis now is the direct result of our alumni.  Their efforts, their lives, and their contributions are woven in the fabric of the community that we live in – our University culture, traditions, programs, scholarships, buildings, stories, myths and legends. The importance of kinship, relationships, the strong sense of ownership that characterizes who we are echoes through their voices.  And in them I recognize that, though lived out differently in the context of the moment, there are enduring values that are uniquely Regis and bind us together on a lifelong journey. 

Our alumni are invested in this university, its mission, each other, and in the experience of our students. That understanding is at the heart of our alumni engagement work this year – creating experiences and activities where alumni can encounter each other, our university, our students and our mission again and again.  Service opportunities, reunions, trips to the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Marade, tailgates, receptions, speakers, conferences, festivals, Easter Egg hunts, movie nights are all framed with that intent. Additonally, there are opportunities to invite them back to our campus (either virtually or in person) to share their experiences with current students on panels, in classrooms, and in one-on-one conversations around discernment.  Finally, there will be opportunities to highlight their voices, tell their stories, and in doing so inspire us to Magis; a fuller journey together.”

Thank you, Dave, for your dedication and commitment to fostering connections as our students transition into inspiring alums. Acknowledging this as a sacred duty grounded in our Jesuit Catholic traditions, we embrace this responsibility and anticipate bearing witness to the many ways our alums will positively impact, shape and guide their communities and our common home.

Kindly,

Salvador D. Aceves, Ed.D

President