When I began to reflect on my 20 years as University President, I found myself thinking of those familiar faces in the Oak Room. I subsequently learned that over 100 have spent twenty years or more at Fairfield. These and other loyal employees, whose gifts and talents have come together in this time and place, fulfill a purpose far greater than their individual skills. In this, the Jesuit tradition, we at Fairfield University strive, individually and collectively, to reflect the glory of God in all we do. Through them, and the many they represent, we see the growth and flowering of a remarkable University over the last two decades.
Good wood depends on a system of roots that grows both wide and deep.
Good wood produces branches that stretch to the sky, fulfilling in every season a function that enriches life and creating in every season a beauty that touches the soul. On a campus blessed by natural beauty, it is heartening to know how abundantly that beauty is multiplied in the lives of those who work here. In this Report, we also acknowledge another group of individuals whose generosity is a blessing multiplied the thousands of benefactors whose gifts in 1998-99 have nourished the growth of this University and the students we serve. This partnership of alumni, parents, corporations, foundations, and friends has played a vital role in establishing a quality of education that sets Fairfield apart. To each person listed herein, I offer my heartfelt thanks.