Dear Toreros,

As we conclude the academic year, with the holiday season upon us, it can feel like a sprint to the finish line. But in the spirit of Advent, this is also a time of preparation, anticipation and reflection.

For our USD community, we look back on 2023 and see a list of celebrations, accolades and accomplishments. We also recognize this has been a year that has challenged and tested us in many ways. As I sit down and take stock of the year and what I am thankful for, I am most grateful for our Torero community and the support and care for one another that has guided us through it all.

In 2024, USD will celebrate the 75th anniversary of its founding. Commemorating the 75th anniversary is a moment to look back and honor the generations of Toreros who have come before us to shape the university that we know today. It is also an opportunity to look ahead toward the promise and hope of the future. That’s why our anniversary year will be guided by the theme, “Lighting the Way Forward.”  While you’ll see many events, initiatives and communications carrying this theme throughout the year, I encourage you to consider how you personally light the way forward in your own lives - through your work, scholarship, service and the many ways you share your talents with the world.

As we kick off our anniversary year we are excited that USD will host a national conference focused on the future of Catholic higher education. The role of a Catholic university in our contemporary times is more important than ever as we face humanity’s urgent needs with compassion, respect and the value of human dignity.

One of our major accomplishments in 2023 was updating USD’s mission, vision and values. Standing for peace is at the heart of USD’s identity – and to do that we have a responsibility to bridge differences as we approach the complexities of our world. We are a community representing a diversity of ideas, experiences and backgrounds. As we turn the page on another year, amidst a backdrop of war and conflict globally and the challenges we face here in our own backyard, let us come together and recommit ourselves to fostering peace, working for justice and leading with love.

Wishing you and your loved ones a merry Christmas, a joyful holiday season, and the very best for the new year.

Peace,

James T. Harris III, DEd
President