Dear Friends,
The strength of Fairfield University lies in both our enduring mission and our evolving endeavor. Each academic year offers a new chapter in a legacy that spans generations—one grounded in Ignatian discernment, animated by intellectual curiosity, and guided as always toward purpose and service.
This fall, I reflected at my annual Fairfield First Friday address on how far we have come and, more importantly, where we are called to go. As I shared with the community, the Very Reverend Arturo Sosa, S.J., has noted that a Jesuit University must demonstrate “the ability to be ahead of its time, several steps ahead of the present moment.” That is our opportunity and our obligation. And we approach it from a position of remarkable strength.
Fairfield continues to thrive as a values-based, student-centric, outcomes-focused institution. The most recent incoming Class of 2029 reflects extraordinary talent and a breadth of experiences, as our approach is resonating more powerfully than ever with students and families across the nation. It is an approach built upon a commitment to instantiating academic excellence, fostering comprehensive achievement, and advancing educational access.
Instantiating Academic Excellence
We remain steadfast in our commitment to the liberal arts and to an academic culture defined by curiosity, collaboration, and colleagueship. These values, embodied now in the newly named John Charles Meditz College of Arts and Sciences and throughout our University, remind us that true education is not confined to any single discipline or method. It is the integration of inquiry across fields, the willingness to wrestle with complexity, and the belief that wisdom is found not only in knowledge, but in community.
Fostering Human Flourishing & Achievement
Education is also a celebration of the human spirit—through the arts, culture, civic engagement, and athletics. This fall, our campus has been enlivened by conversation and creativity with visits from His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan, as well as from distinguished guests Eboo Patel, Thomas Chatterton Williams, Scott Jennings, and Stav Shaffir amongst others. In the months ahead, we welcome the return of documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, columnist David Brooks, and journalist Kaitlan Collins. These varied voices reflect our mission to be a place where dialogue deepens understanding.
That same spirit of excellence shines on our athletic pursuits, where our student-athletes represent Fairfield at its very best. This fall, the women’s soccer and field hockey teams earned national Division I Top-25 rankings, following the men’s lacrosse team’s recognition last spring, marking seven national rankings across our programs in just the past five years. Beyond competition, our Stags set high standards in the classroom and in the community as evidenced by all teams posting a GPA of 3.00 or higher and a department-wide GPA of 3.57, while contributing more than 4,000 hours in community service. These students embody the Jesuit ideal of cura personalis, striving for the magis in mind, body, and spirit.
Advancing Educational Access
We are called, as a Jesuit Catholic university, to reach broader populations in ever more innovative ways. Through initiatives such as Fairfield Bellarmine, our two-year associate’s degree program in Bridgeport, we are transforming lives and communities by opening new pathways to higher education. Our Bellarmine project continues apace, enhanced by the newly dedicated Curley Science Center and buoyed by the success of Bellarmine’s inaugural graduating class which had an exceptional graduation rate and now sees 31 students continuing their studies in Fairfield’s four-year program. This initiative stands as a powerful testament to our mission in action.
Similarly, the success of our DNP in Nurse Anesthesia program in Austin, Texas, demonstrates how innovation can transcend geography. As we explore new offerings for our online programs as well as potential new geographic locations, we remain guided by a single purpose: to reach even more individuals with the gift of a Fairfield education.
