Letter from the president: We carry what matters
This past year, my father passed away at the age of 77. He was a gentle person whose quiet strength, listening ear, and wise counsel became a steady rhythm in my life. As we prepared for his funeral and sifted through old photos, one image stopped me in my tracks: Dad carrying me on his back, his face lit with joy. It is one of my favorite photographs because it captures so much of who he was. Dad carried us everywhere. He carried us up sledding hills, through backyard relays, and onto the branches of a big cottonwood tree. But he also carried us in the ways that mattered most: holding the weight of our fears when health challenges arose, shouldering our questions when life grew complicated, and offering the kind of presence that made any burden feel lighter. My dad carried what mattered.
As a mom of eight, one of my greatest joys was building snow tunnels and racing down hills with our kids. Our first six were born within just seven and a half years, which meant that on countless winter days I found myself pulling several little ones up icy slopes, carrying one — or two — on my back through snowdrifts and together shaping forts from the heavy white mounds. I carried them again when I pulled them behind my bike, when I listened after the sting of a hard day at school, when I held their sorrow over an athletic defeat or when I felt the ache of one of our adopted children of another race, who sometimes felt out of place in our rural school, helping them navigate questions of identity and belonging while reminding them they were cherished beyond measure. In all these moments, I have learned that to be human — whether as a daughter or as a mother — is to carry what matters.
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Today, I am reminded that the work of higher education matters. At St. Ambrose University and Mount Mercy University, we commit to carrying what matters: our Catholic mission, our students, and the communities we serve. The “Power of We” is more than a slogan, it is the lived reality of what we can accomplish together when rooted in faith, shaped by legacy, and focused on impact.
We carry forward the legacy of the Saint Ambrose of Milan, the priests of the Diocese of Davenport, and the Mercy and Presentation Sisters whose courage and vision shape our work. Their charisms continue to inspire us to educate in ways that are both rigorous and compassionate, to serve those at the margins, and to lead with justice and mercy. As our two universities integrate, we are not simply combining resources; we are weaving together traditions of faith and service that prepare us to respond with greater strength to the needs of our time.
This mission is alive in our community today. It is seen in art therapy initiatives by faculty that bring hope and healing to Ukrainian refugees rebuilding their lives. It is present in the generosity of our donors who fuel collaborative learning environments, setting students up for success from their first day on campus. It is alive in our faculty who help students engage in the ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence, ensuring that technology serves humanity rather than diminishes it.
Each of these efforts reflects our shared belief that education is not only about knowledge, it is about courage, wisdom, justice, and the common good. We do this work not alone, but together. The “Power of We” reminds us that when we lift one another, when we walk together, when we carry what matters, we make a difference far greater than the sum of our individual efforts.
As we look ahead, we carry the faith and vision entrusted to us by those who came before. We carry the responsibility to form students who are courageous, compassionate, and creative leaders. And we carry the hope that our work, which is rooted in Catholic identity and open to the world, will help transform lives and communities for generations to come.
