Tradition, Change, and Transitions

Bro. Tom Giardino, SM
Executive Director

"Our tradition is adaptation" were the words that the renowned Marianist historian, Fr. Joseph Verrier, SM, said in a conference to the Brothers in France in 1946. Verrier knew well how often our Founder, Fr. Chaminade, had moved on from the past and into an unknown future from the French Revolution, exile, vastly diverse governments one of which dashed his dream of teacher training institutions throughout France, and other moments. He not only survived but flourished...and we are part of that legacy.

From our three Marianist universities, the testimonies you will read from your colleagues and our students in this Newsletter give evidence that we not only inherited a legacy, we have preserved and advanced the educational charism. This is because just as the first Marianist brothers who came to Honolulu, San Antonio, and Dayton were not entirely certain they were doing all the right things as they implanted a tradition from the old world to the new, we find ourselves in the same situation given the cultural, social, and political dynamics stirring today. The Marianist educational imagination is alive and well - in us!

Speaking of Transitions....

Verb Washington, Assistant Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences [and recent Lackner Award winner] at the University of Dayton, has been one of our Newsletter editors for almost five years. He will retire from UD at the end of this semester. We have benefited from his incisive questions, faith perspectives, fine writing, and delightful humor in the preparation and final product of our Newsletters. Thank you, Verb, for making us better by your presence and talents.

As some of you know, I will be transitioning from the AMU Executive Director position on 30 June of this year. I will move into ministry at the North American Center for Marianist Studies located in Dayton. The AMU ministry has been a work of my heart as I have seen my purpose in life as offering connections to the Marianist charism in whatever I have been about these many Marianist years, and AMU has been a joy given the response of so many to our common mission. Thank you for your gracious friendship and competent partnership as the leadership roles evolve in our ministries. The breadth and depth of lay leadership portends well for the stable future of our Catholic and Marianist mission and identity. I have been blessed with Administrative Assistants who have advanced the mission with their talent and care: Carol Farrell, Paula Stewart, Amy Hart, and Shelly Kramer. I particularly want to thank the AMU Board for their solid support and advice over my nine years.

The AMU Board of Directors has completed its national search for the next AMU Executive Director, and Dr. Allison Leigh, presently Director of Marianist Strategies at UD, will assume the position on July 1, 2025. I am delighted to welcome Allison to this vital ministry, and I am sure that she will bring fresh energy and creative, new ideas to the effort. Allison is deeply familiar with all three Marianist universities, and you can read more about her by clicking here for her appointment announcement. Thank you, Allison, for your Marianist "yes!"

Bro. Tom