Campus Community

"Seattle's University"

Written by Mike Thee

February 24, 2014

President Stephen Sundborg, S.J.

The 2014 President's Report sets the stage for a university more connected than ever to its region.

The 2014 President's Report sets a bold new course for SU to truly become "Seattle's University." 

"The Jesuit imperative is to question and re-imagine, to push and span and, when necessary, break down boundaries," writes President Stephen Sundborg, S.J., in his opening letter. "We feed off the restless energy of the city we are privileged to call home, breathing its fresh air of innovation and ingenuity. As our mission and location are interwoven, our impact reverberates throughout and beyond the region-deeply, meaningfully and sustainably." 

While the report celebrates the university's existing connections to its home city-for instance through the Seattle University Youth Initiative-it is as much oriented to the future and the more active partnership that SU aspires to forge with the region and beyond. 

Titled "The Future is Here," the report details, SU will invest more deeply in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and health sciences in order to respond to a growing societal demand in those fields. It will also continue to create new online programs that align with the needs of today's prospective students, boosting scholarship assistance and bolstering efforts to prepare students for meaningful careers and lives. 

The President's Report is primarily intended for friends of the university and other external constituencies, yet much of its content will interest even those of us who come to campus a daily basis. Like the Q&A with Dean Michael Quinn of the College of Science and Engineering on the future of STEM education at SU. Or the profile of Hollis Wong-Wear, '09, synth pop musician and frequent collaborator with Grammy-winning artist Macklemore. Or the interesting factoids sprinkled throughout the report, many of which are sure to elicit a "Gee, I didn't know that."

So go check out the online version of the President's Report. Want a hard copy version of the report? E-mail tinap@seattleu.edu. 

Gold Award!

Just as the 2014 President’s Report arrived, the previous year’s report received a prestigious award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District VIII. The 2013 President’s Report earned the Gold Award, the highest recognition, in the annual reports category. CASE District VIII comprises colleges and universities in five U.S. states and seven Canadian provinces. Accepting the award on SU’s behalf were Marketing Communications staff Tina Potterf, who edits the report, and Annie Beckmann, who is instrumental in writing its content.