The Echo-The Student Reflection of St. Michael's College

Good afternoon, friends, and thank you all for coming in response to this last-minute call to the community to come together and learn some news and immediate plans for Saint Michael's College.

It is no secret that I am completing my tenth year as president of Saint Michael's College, and it is important that I recall for you what was discussed ten years ago when Dana and I arrived here, and I accepted this wonderful position and responsibility. At that time, the Board expressed the hope that I would stay at least seven years, until I reached the age of 65, but as we came closer to that date, the suggestion was made that I should continue at least until the end of the Centennial celebration and our Visions Campaign. Of course, when that date was close at hand, most everyone agreed, including myself, that it would be unwise to ask the Saint Michael's College community to look for a new president during that critical year of celebration and concluding an important capital campaign. Hence, we again agreed to stay. This has been a glorious decade for Dana and me—we have enjoyed every minute of our stay and intend to continue that joy and excitement for as long as we remain here.

But today, I have to share with you that this next academic year, 2006-2007, will be my last as president of Saint Michael's College. When I leave, I shall be close to turning 69, and Dana and I concur that if I want to try something else in life, I had better get on with it. However, to me, it is important that the leadership of an institution, particularly one in higher education like ours, needs regular renewal because the circumstances and needs, aspirations and expectations are changing much more rapidly than ever before.

Therefore, shortly, the Board of Trustees will initiate efforts to identify a successor. I am certain this individual will have the same extraordinary anticipation as I did and will find an institution that is rich in history, rich in content and rich in its future. Our ethos was shaped and is perpetuated by the members of the Society of Saint Edmund who are in our midst. It is reflected in many aspects and facets of College life that remain at the core of our value system. The Edmundite spirit—and more and more, I hope, the better we get to know it, the spirit of Saint Edmund—will carry this institution to new heights. The scholarly demeanor of that Archbishop of Canterbury and the altruistic, caring nature of the patron saint of our founding Society will always be a beacon for this community. We are blessed with an academic institution that is absolutely, without any exaggeration, achieving a higher standing every year. Our academic enterprise in a residential setting has grown in a substantive fashion over the past decade and is definitely one of the hallmarks of a Saint Michael's College education.

There is no doubt in my mind that—notwithstanding this current difficult financial year—this College is on a firm fiscal footing thanks to the work of many in this community and at the Board level. While I had hoped that some expectations would have been fulfilled during my tenure, I am certain that in the near future, significant progress will be made on increasing the endowment and enhancing the financial viability of Saint Michael’s College.

I assume that like any other president, I will depart in the summer of 2007 wishing to have accomplished more. I certainly had hoped to see the beginning of the Dupont Library—and I still may—and I had definitely hoped to see the restoration of Founders Hall—and I still may—along with quite a few other projects. However, I am very happy to leave in my successor’s care an institution that is vibrant, healthy, committed to its mission and ready to take on new and fresh challenges, including new leadership.

What has been achieved over the past decade, I did not do alone. It has been my privilege to have the support of a Board of Trustees that was always strong, serious and constructive. I have had the benefit of working with great leaders of the Board—Bill Chadwick and Peter Worrell at first and, over the last four years, Jim Wall, who brought a unique set of talents to the chairmanship that will leave a distinctive imprint on this institution. I have learned so much from them, was fully supported by them and will be forever grateful for the trust they placed in me.

I was also helped immeasurably in undertaking my tasks and responsibilities by a group of colleagues in the administration who worked hard and have done wondrous things with limited resources. I believe their devotion to this institution has been inadequately praised in the course of the years—they deserve our admiration and appreciation for the quiet accomplishment of so many thankless tasks.

For the faculty, I must say that not only am I proud of our Saint Michael's College faculty, I love to be their advocate. I believe we have a scholarly faculty who are dedicated to teaching and learning in a fashion that is truly exemplary; who take their task as educators, advisors and mentors as seriously as the pursuit of new knowledge; who accept that without research, we have nothing new to teach; who have brought great honors to this College, year after year; and who are not afraid to entertain the daunting prospect of revisiting that which they have created.

Staff members in every corner of this institution have truly dedicated their lives, their energies, and their talents to the success of the College—they play a vital role in the holistic Saint Michael’s experience. In particular, I am grateful for the staff in the President’s Office who, day after day, do their best to help me do my best.

Most of all, however, I want to thank the students of Saint Michael's College and all those who have become alumni over the past decade. They are the raison d’être for our institution, but also for my energy, my hope and my love for the next generation. Of course, at times, they were a painful headache, but they were almost always a joy. I am confident that they will take care of this institution and that they will also take their place in society, where alumni of Saint Michael's are badly needed.

Not as an afterthought, but as a genuine expression of gratitude, I want to address the many people in this community—officials in town government, leaders of cultural organizations, numerous members of not-for-profits and a large number in the business community—all those I have had the pleasure to meet and exchange ideas with. I want to thank them, not only for the time they gave me, but also for their interest in our College.

And finally, but most importantly, at least for me, I want to say thank you to Dana. Without her, it is not only clear to me, but I know it is clear to all of you, I would not be doing what I am doing and certainly not in the way I am doing it. She has been with me every day of our time at Saint Michael's, and we both love this place. We love the job, and she has been the most valuable helpmate and assistant on whom anyone could rely. She gave up her own career so I could try this. It has been fulfilling for us both, and we have enjoyed it and are grateful for it.

Now, it should be apparent to all of you that given Dana’s energy and my curiosity, neither of us is prepared to retire. So during the coming year, in addition to working very hard on what needs to be accomplished on a daily basis at this fine institution, we will try to figure out what to do thereafter. I want to make certain that I am part of that decision before Dana surprises me with something altogether different.

It is impossible to mention all of the many people who have helped me in the past decade. I have tried my best to live by the remarks and suggestions I made in my inaugural address ten years ago when I said that I would, at all times, remind myself that I am not the holiest and, therefore, could not be your example, and I am not the smartest and, therefore, should not be lecturing. I have tried to live on the strength of listening and following my conscience. I am at ease with that and at peace with what I have done.

I know this college has a great future, and the next decade will see remarkable changes. It may be hard to imagine, but you will see enormous growth in the strength of this institution as it becomes even more serious about its mission and content. Saint Michael’s will truly live up to its character—an inclusive community where the spirit of free inquiry will be practiced by those in doubt as well as by those with deep faith, and where all is shared to advance knowledge of the self and the pursuit of all truth for generation after generation of students. That is our task, and it is a beautiful one.

Marc and Dana vanderHeyden have served Saint Michael's College and the greater Burlington community with distinction. Their passion for and commitment to this institution and its Edmundite founders have been evident in all of their actions and accomplishments over the last ten years.

Under Marc's capable leadership, the overall quality of Saint Michael's as a Catholic, residential, liberal arts college has been substantially enhanced. His enduring and primary focus on our students and the quality of their total educational experience was clear from the moment he set foot on campus. His efforts to improve our academic and student life programs, our faculty and staff, and our physical plant have produced significant and tangible results. His ability to rekindle the passion and commitment of our alumni and benefactors led to a highly successful capital campaign. As a result, the College is on a solid foundation to continue to provide a peerless educational experience for future generations of students.

As Marc begins the final year of his presidency, the Board of Trustees and the entire College community wish to express their gratitude for the legacy that he and Dana have established. Through his outstanding leadership, we have become a better institution of higher education, preparing our students to serve the greater good in the Edmundite tradition.