25 Years of Impact

Tim Leary has a dilemma: what to do with all these books. Anybody who’s visited his workplace has noticed a group rivaling a library stack—to not point out all the opposite accrued artifacts and mementos, together with a framed Spectator article that Anne Moran, ’87, senior assistant to the president, wrote about Leary when she was an SU pupil and a museum-worthy pc he used to write down his PhD dissertation.

After a mixed 25 years at Seattle College and a grand whole of 42 years working in larger training, Leary will step down as govt vp in June. “Extra folks have been asking what’s occurring with my books than what I’m doing subsequent,” he says with amusing.

Leary’s time at Seattle College contains 5 years within the Eighties when he labored within the division then known as Pupil Life. After 13 years at different establishments, he returned to SU in 2002 as vp for pupil growth earlier than being named senior vp and finally govt vp. At one time or one other, he has overseen nearly each space of the college (the one exceptions being enrollment and the faculties and faculties). “I’ve had an opportunity to see Seattle College come into its personal and develop and develop.”

Examples of Leary’s influence on the college abound. Amongst numerous different contributions, he has been integral in evolving, enhancing and championing the coed expertise, bringing SU again to Division I athletics, creating new services and serving to to set in movement the college’s service-learning and neighborhood engagement efforts.

“Since I met him in the course of the presidential search course of, I’ve been constantly impressed by Tim Leary’s deep data of Jesuit larger training and his nice affection for Seattle College,” says President Eduardo Peñalver. “Throughout the transition, I’ve benefited tremendously from his encyclopedic historic data of SU, his private generosity and his sound judgment. He’s the quintessential Redhawk. I’ll miss working with him, and I want him the easiest as he begins his subsequent chapter.”

Peñalver’s predecessor agrees. “A lot of Tim’s work was hidden to a lot of the college, however his influence was important and really constructive,” says Stephen Sundborg, S.J. “He at all times served with a way of mission, care and love of scholars. As president I personally relied on him day by day and profoundly. All of us owe him an important debt of gratitude for his service on the coronary heart of what we’re about.”

Leary by no means noticed himself as staying in any job for greater than 5 years. That he’s been at SU for a quarter-century says lots about his emotions for the establishment. “I’ve at all times known as this college. I’ve by no means known as it work, as a result of I really feel like I am going to high school every single day. I’m always studying.”

Whereas Leary’s profession trajectory introduced growing administrative obligations, his coronary heart has at all times been with the scholars and his deal with their wellbeing and success. Leary determined to enter larger ed, largely, due to an expertise he had as an undergraduate on the College of Vermont. “Let’s simply say I bought to know the dean of scholars intimately,” he says with a wry smile. “I used to be in his workplace lots, and if not for him being supportive and keen to take an opportunity on me, I in all probability would’ve been kicked out of faculty—I in all probability deserved to be.”

After making it via a tough freshman yr, Leary started to consider working with college students, notably those that are struggling. “I selected to work in larger training as a result of it felt like a vocation.”

With Leary, any discuss in regards to the work he’s completed shortly turns to the folks with whom he’s completed it. He lights up when discussing one colleague after one other who has flourished of their careers. He roots for and revels of their success.

It’s no shock then that it’s the folks Leary will miss probably the most. The previous two years have been a little bit of costume rehearsal. He’s not a lot for Zoom or working from house. “I’m only a social being and I want to have interaction with others, so I’ll miss that considerably.”

Leary says he was serious about going out with Father Sundborg when he retired as president final yr, however Sundborg requested him to remain for a yr of transition. “It’s clear Eduardo is doing nice issues,” Leary says. “Timing is every thing, and I feel the timing is true (for me to go away). I’m very a lot at peace with it.”

As for what’s subsequent—for him, not the books—Leary stated he’s wanting ahead to spending a while in New England. “I’m a Vermonter, grew up there, return yearly.” After that, he says, “Who is aware of? “However my well being is sweet and I’d love to search out new methods to contribute to one way or the other making the world a greater place for others, notably these most in want.”

Farewell celebration: The campus neighborhood is invited to have a good time Tim Leary’s contributions and repair to Seattle College from 3:30 to five p.m., Tuesday, Could 31, on the second ground of Sullivan Corridor.