I’m energized by meeting the Bonaventura famiglia from Allegany to Italy and everywhere in between
You think you learned the basics in elementary school, those indelible lessons that stick in your brain forever, even after you’ve hit life’s 55-year mile marker.
“Thirty days hath September, April, June and November. All the rest have 31, excepting February alone.”
Little did I realize that the months in a college president’s calendar have like 42 days — or so it seemed during my whirlwind first year as the leader of this remarkable institution.
But I want to be clear: As busy as I’ve been, I couldn’t be more thankful for the experiences I’ve had, meeting so many members of the Bonaventure family, both on campus and in our passionate alumni network.
Coming on board last summer with the university on the brink of publicly launching our Bolder Bonaventure campaign, I fully understood that I’d hit the ground running — or, more precisely, driving and flying.
Including the public launch of the campaign at Buffalo’s Highmark Stadium in September and the Gaudete Awards event May 18 in Washington, D.C., I traveled to 18 events across the country, from Boston to Florida to California, talking about the significance of the campaign for the future of the university.
I’m grateful you heard our message. With two full years left in the $125 million campaign, we’re more than 75% of the way to goal.
Academic facilities, starting with the renovation of Francis Hall to accommodate the DePerro School of Health Professions, were top priorities in the early stages of the campaign. We’re making solid progress on fundraising for the Jandoli School, which is vital to bring the facilities in our revered communication school into the 21st century.
Now, the focus of the campaign turns to the athletics pillar. A new weight and performance center, an indoor turf practice facility for outdoor teams, basketball practice facility, and upgrades to the existing turf fields are included in the overall project. With more than 20% of our student body doubling as Division I athletes, providing these students with facilities to help them become more competitive in the Atlantic 10 is essential.
Aside from the donor events, I also had the opportunity — among many others — to share a pint with fans before the Bonnies thumped Notre Dame outside Belmont Park, break bread with friars at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston, volunteer in Florida with BonaResponds students for a day of hurricane relief over spring break, host SBU’s Alumni Council at our Olean home in October, and celebrate the best and brightest of our Jandoli School in New York City at the Hellinger Awards.
No question, it’s been a whirlwind, but a year full of experiences that Betsy and I have been blessed to be a part of.
Perhaps the most meaningful trip we made, with some trustees and alumni, was to Italy this spring to visit the hometowns of our patrons, Bonaventure, Francis and Clare. I’ve felt the embrace of our Franciscan spirit since I stepped on campus last summer, but to walk in their historical footsteps gave me an even deeper appreciation of why this university has left such an imprint on so many people.
We even had the chance to visit Magliano de Marsi, home of the Pietrobattista family, descendants of the family of Fr. Panfilo da Magliano, our first president. Former University President Margaret Carney went door to door in the village more than 15 years ago to find them and invite them to our 150th anniversary celebration in 2008. (They thought so much of their visit that they sent their daughter, Flavia, ’19, abroad to earn her degree from SBU.)
The family could not have been more gracious welcoming us into their home, which didn’t surprise me at all. They’re just as much a part of the extended Bonaventura famiglia as the 500 alumni who came home last month for Reunion Weekend.
But, make no mistake, my favorite part of my first year has been right here on our beautiful campus. Watching our faculty and staff work their magic to provide the essential Bona’s experience and getting to know our incredible students has been inspiring and motivating. Dinner with the friars is rejuvenating. Theater performances, athletics matches, dance performances, concerts, recognition ceremonies and kickball games are just a few of the opportunities that I’ve had to watch our students be extraordinary Bonnies.
It’s been quite a trip so far. I can’t wait to see where this year takes me and where, together, we can take St. Bonaventure.
Dr. Jeff Gingerich
University President
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