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December, 2021
Dear Faculty, Staff and Students in the Klingler College of Arts & Sciences,
Both our Fall semester and an eventful year—filled with opportunities as well as challenges—are
drawing to a close. Your outstanding work this year has spanned groundbreaking research,
transformational teaching and significant community engagement. You have garnered
prestigious grants, fellowships and awards. Thank you for your dedication. I hope
you will pause to reflect upon all that we have achieved together.
As we review the past year during this Advent season, we also look to the future in
hope and expectation. Theologian Karl Rahner, SJ wrote a reflection for this season
called “Patience with the Provisional.” We are called to wait in faith, love and humility,
Rahner says, and to be satisfied with “small signs.” Our human impatience needs to
be tempered with acceptance and an embrace of the not-yet that is still to come.
These teachings echo the thoughtful advice offered by twelve A&S alumni who visited
a virtual one-credit course I taught this semester called “Arts and Sciences Influentials.”
Created for juniors and seniors, the course helps students identify how the arts and
sciences influence and contribute to the common good, enhance their personal and professional
development, and prepare for meaningful and satisfying vocations and careers. Our
alumni speakers modeled Advent practices of looking ahead with hope and humility.
One alum, now CEO of a global software company, showed a picture of himself as a Marquette
student, standing in front of McCormick Hall holding a hamburger on a paper plate. This
was an image of a young person without the slightest notion of what the future would
hold or the dramatic transformation he would undergo. Like other alumni visitors,
he extolled the Catholic, Jesuit liberal arts education he experienced at Marquette.
Across the visits, a few overarching themes—all of them related to the hopeful expectation
of Advent—emerged: resilience, relationship and responsibility.
Resilience was described by our alumni in terms of problem-solving, critical thinking,
managing conflict and facilitating difficult conversations. They discussed how to
use reflection and discernment to cope with negative experiences, setbacks and failures.
The students appreciated the candor of our alumni, contrasting the contrived success
stories they see on social media with the genuine descriptions of life’s challenges
by our visitors. One alum said: “Keep learning. Stay uncomfortable.” Others noted
that life is not a linear path. They urged students not to be afraid to try something
new. Like our McCormick Hall hamburger-holder, almost all of the alumni said that
when they graduated from Marquette they weren’t sure which path they wanted to pursue.
Some of the most resounding successes emerged through chance, grace and new acquaintances.
Relationship, then, was another frequent theme. In the alumni stories it was often
the key to unexpected opportunities. They emphasized the power of networking and gave
advice about how to make connections, such as evincing an authentic interest in others
and seeing God in everyone. They urged current students to stay involved with Marquette
through alumni clubs in various cities. Students wrote in their reflection papers that they were inspired
by alumni members’ ongoing engagement with Marquette. The power of connections shone
through in various remarks by our alumni, including: “Experience is great but it’s
also who you know” and “I’d much rather get a referral or endorsement than take a chance.”
By virtue of being at Marquette, you have a built-in network. Although we live in
an increasingly digital world, there is no substitute for making personal contacts. One
alum echoed the sentiments of many: “All of my best friends are my Marquette friends.”
Responsibility was the third pervasive theme. Our alumni speakers described the influence
of Marquette’s Catholic, Jesuit mission on their values and sense of calling to serve
others. It led them to give advice like: Treat everyone with honor and respect. You
never know who knows whom. The world is smaller than you think. Be accountable to
yourself. When asked to define success, one alum said: “To be kind, open, curious,
a good person.” This alum noted that while we sometimes define success through income
or educational attainment, really it’s a matter of good character and values. Another
defined success in this way: “You’re making a difference.” Others spoke of the importance
of overcoming individualism. They invoked the maturity and multicultural perspective
they learned through their liberal arts education. Several alumni emphasized developing
empathy, or in the words of one visitor, “not everyone thinks like I do!” One alum
said: “Don’t settle. Do great things.” Another spoke eloquently of values-based leadership,
of having to speak up in favor of doing the right thing.
Bridging all three themes, some visitors described dealing with prejudice and responding
with courage. They urged students to pursue an end that will truly fulfill them. They
recommended: Don’t just get a job, find a profession. An alum summed up the value
of an education in our College by saying: “The Arts and Sciences make you powerful.”
One of the most beautiful statements we heard was: “I attribute my happiness and success
to Marquette.”
Students, I urge you to stay connected with Marquette! Doing so will enrich your life
and open opportunities. Faculty and staff, thank you for your ongoing relationships
with our students and alumni. Please encourage them to remain engaged.
One visitor memorably remarked: “You don’t get to pick when you’ll have a life-changing
moment.” This sentiment brought to mind the Ignatian Year we are currently celebrating, and the cannonball moments we are called upon to consider.
This month also saw the re-opening of the newly renovated St. Joan of Arc Chapel on
campus. The Chapel is a special place for many of you, as for me. One of the first
things I did upon moving to Milwaukee was to participate in the livestreamed 500th anniversary St. Joan of Arc Mass in May 2020. This month also saw the all-University
Advent retreat featuring Fr. James Martin, SJ, Editor-at-large of America magazine and author of Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone. Fr. Martin’s reflection centered on making prayer more accessible. He invoked a
wonderful phrase from St. Teresa of Ávila: “Prayer is a conversation between friends
and a mutual sharing.” This is yet another reminder about the power of relationships.
In closing, let me emphasize again the message of the Advent season, the expectant
waiting for Emmanuel, God with us. We are invited to welcome God in a new way into
our lives. No matter your own faith tradition, may the Advent season hold many blessings
and the joyful promise of what is yet to come.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Dr. Heidi Bostic
Dean, Klingler College of Arts and Sciences
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