Q: As a born and raised San Franciscan, first generation college student and the first Latino and Lay university president. How does it feel to step into a role that’s traditionally for white, Jesuit priests?
A: In many ways, I’m absolutely privileged, and excited about the appointment, but I’m also humbled, because I recognize that this is such an important opportunity, not just for me. To some degree, I’m going to go back and say it brings to life my parents’ struggle, because so many of our parents, particularly as immigrants, were coming at great sacrifice to find a new place and wanting that better life for their sons and daughters. So being the son of immigrant parents coming to this country, to some degree, I’m living up to their dream. And so that’s it comes with enormous pride, but as I said, it’s humbling as well. So that’s one.
Another piece that I noticed, and this became very real during orientation, are new students parents’ saying, ‘Wow, it’s great to see you as a Latino person now in this role,’ and so I recognize that it’s not just me, it’s actually to support others who are also looking for that validation that our society, our community. Now there is a place at the table for what is really reflecting the life and the city of the life of the city. I think those are the two things that I would say really stand out. With that sense of pride and humility comes an enormous responsibility as well. That’s what I now want to live up to.
S: As a first generation student yourself, what’s the significance of the first of your first incoming class being 47% first generation students, and how do you want to support them?
A: You know, in many ways, it is a great testament to the continued access and the importance that higher education places in opportunity for our youth. Although I will say that we have returning students, we have graduate students. We have students of all ages, but if we focus on probably a large percentage of our students that are first generation, our students that are really also transitioning from high school or transitioning from secondary education. And so they’re finding their way now, and they want to continue that path. So in the midst of all the conversations that are taking place around the value of higher education and how important or
what the alternative pathways are, the fact that we now have inspired a generation of young men and women to continue their studies, for me, that’s terrific.
Now I think as we bring our first generation students to campus, we ourselves need to ask, how do we best support you? Because part of what I also recognize is no different from my parents. Sometimes our parents don’t know how to help. They want to help, and we know that, but they’re also asking the question, how can we help? And so I’ve been a big advocate for saying, particularly to our first generation students, we admit you, but we also are admitting your families, because it’s in doing that that we then open up a broader conversation around, how do we engage with families? Because we also know that many of our students, particularly our first generation students, are having to balance very complicated lives. Work, life, home, responsibilities, a whole range of responsibilities that are now added to the complexity of not just being a student but also being an important member of the family. So I recognize that, and so the best way for us is to also acknowledge that, the way that we now advise, the way that we, you know, present services at, you know, at extended times, different times, I think, all speak to how we are adapting? Because there is nothing worse than admitting a first generation student and not having them graduate.
I: Knowing that the majority of students who attend USF are on financial aid — only 2% of students pay that full sticker price or tuition — and with the flexi meal plan increasing, how do you respond to the claim that students are unable to afford food?
A: It’s a complicated question… let me address the broader issue around the way that we package financial aid. We recognize that financial aid, in many ways, is a balance of many funding sources. It’s University money that, through the generosity of our donors, allows us to be able to set up scholarships and other forms of financial awards that support the student’s total cost of attendance. We also know that the state of California makes an investment through their grants as well. We know that the federal government, depending on certain programs, makes support available. We know that student loans play a factor as well. We know that work study is another factor. So when you start to think about all those layers, we start to see how it is that college is accessible and affordable because of this combination. So for me, my energy and part of the reason why we’re so strong in our advocacy against changes at the federal level around federal support is because we know that it represents an important part of that blend of financial assistance that makes it possible. So that’s one side of the equation. The other side of the equation is the cost. And the cost, really, in many ways, is, you know, tuition, it’s food, it’s room and board as well. That one is a little tougher, because in many ways, we partner with our partners, and so we have a partner that is, I’d like to say, sensitive to the cost, but also trying to find the balance between, how do you make food available and accessible, and at the same time, recognize that we serve a very broad range of students in their food needs. I am aware that there is intentionality in things like value meals in order to find ways to do that, but I also am aware of the fact that we want to pay a fair living wage. And so as you look at cost, those costs have to find their way into a price point, And so I think that’s what I mean by complicated. We’re having these tensions… I think beyond that, we’re still trying to figure out what’s the right balance between maintaining a full menu, maintaining value where possible, and still doing it in a way that allows all of our students to still get access to food. So if you hear me struggling, it’s because it’s complicated. I also have great faith that part of what we do in an education is to invite you to help us think this through. This is not a one sided conversation. We need to be in dialogue to figure out, how do we handle those trade offs?
Q: Thinking back to when you were a student, versus now being the president, what are the differences that you’ve noticed in students here now versus when you were on campus?
A: Well, I would say two things. I think what has not changed is the commitment towards an education that links the mind, the heart and the hands or the spirit. I think that, to me, is very much alive as it was when I was here as a student. And I see that because I’m observing the conversations that our students are having with their faculty. I was just at a photo event through the Honors College. Just to see the enthusiasm of the students of the faculty talking about their immersive experience that they have, but also, to hear from the students talk about that as well, lets me know that that commitment towards that formation and focusing on the whole person is very much alive and well.
Now, what’s quite a bit different is all of the things that compete for our time. Whether it’s social media, whether it’s activities and such — and all good. I mean, to some degree, everything has a place and a role, but there’s a lot to balance out, and so that makes life a lot more complicated. And so how do you navigate that in the midst of something that I also consider very important, and that is, how do you develop the habits for the kind of meaningful role in life that we also are preparing you for? And so formation is there. Education is there, the programs, the relationships, are very active, but as I said, you do it in the midst of a much more complicated environment. So that’s what has really jumped out as I spend time with our faculty and our students, yeah.
Q: And speaking of faculty, in April of last year, we reported on an anonymous letter that was sent to the Foghorn about a “Petition of No Confidence” in your predecessor, Paul J. Fitzgerald, SJ. There were various things listed in that letter, but one of them was the claim that there was “declining morale” among the faculty and the staff because they do not feel as though they are being supported by the administration. Seeing as how you have been a student, a professor, and now the president, what could people expect from you to try to boost that morale again?
A: I want to focus on the future. I feel that I have been privileged to live in a number of these roles. And so as I think about my time here, having been in those roles gives me an insider perspective of having done that, having been a student, having been a faculty member, having been an administrator, I think gives me a sense of I can speak from a position of having lived that experience.
So how does that then affect our future? I think there are two key things. One is we have to be very transparent. We have to be inclusive, and we have to engage. By being transparent, I think that there is a full understanding of both the things that are working well and the challenges that we face. And we want to be able to have a full understanding of what are all of those factors? There are external factors, there are internal factors, and so having that broad sense of this comprehensive understanding is key. The second thing around being able to be inclusive means that we have to shape our future together. This is not the president deciding, this is about our faculty, our community, our staff, our librarians, our students, engaging in the conversation around what kind of world we want to create?
And to me, that level of engagement then starts to build that sense of pride and ownership. And then how do we ensure that we are able to then share that and be able to then deliver on that promise? And so I believe that if we follow that pathway, I think what you will have are people that are going to feel that they’re part of a solution, feel that there is engagement, and there’s an invitation to be active participants in the future of the university. And I’m fairly confident in saying that if we do that, I think there is going to be an elevated sense of satisfaction and pride, and all of those are reflected in the engagement that we’d like to see folks have. That happens one conversation at a time.
Q: I’m curious if you have any questions you’d like to pose to [USF] students as readers of our newspaper? Obviously, there’s a lot of eyes on you right now… What is one thing you want to ask or say to the people who are taking the time to learn about our new president?
A: Well, I think first and foremost I never want to take for granted the choices that people make. I always lead with how grateful I am that you chose to come here, and I think that is really important because that really speaks to the commitment and relationship that we are building together. So that’s one. The question that I’ve been asking the community at large… What gives you hope? Because I really do believe that in the midst of challenges and struggles, there has to be that bright light. Something that, when you get up in the morning gives you energy and passion; you say, ‘you know what? In the midst of all of this, I can make sense of it because there is something that gives me hope.’ and I think that’s important, that’s part of building a community that is caring, but also hopeful. Because I think our world needs hope. I would ask students to reflect on that, and if we run into each other, I would want them to share that
Q: So what is one thing you hope to accomplish while you’re in this position?
A: To continue to maintain the trajectory of faith based education, and position the University of San Francisco as a partner in the future of this city. I think that this city is going through a renaissance; it has had its period of ups and downs… and we as an urban center face challenges that are faced not just by other cities in the US but also around the globe… but how can we address those issues with compassion and care?
Editor-in-Chief: Ines Ventura, Managing Editor: Dakota Duran, Chief Copy Editor: Liam Givens, News Editor: Sayat Yemiru, Sports Editor: John Lindroos
