President’s Message

Dear Loyola community,

It’s an odd experience writing this message, knowing that in a world rapidly changed and changing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, you will read these words—only weeks old—in a context that has likely changed two or three times since I wrote them.

At a moment when we feel vulnerable, I am reminded again how much we can rely on Loyola, on our people and our tradition. We can count on our beliefs to help us find meaning in this surreal experience. We can count on the strong relationships we share with each other to get us through.

When the pandemic challenges us with constant uncertainty, we double down on our Jesuit tradition and the things we can be sure of: an ability to find God in all things—even the small things, especially the small things; a stubborn and deep concern for the poor and oppressed, who need us more than ever; a commitment to service; an international perspective that recognizes global problems respect no borders. We practice the Jesuit tradition of “indifference,” clinging to what matters and letting go of the rest.

We are busily working through the logistical challenges of reopening our campus, determined not to let a pandemic derail our students’ opportunities. And so we will add technology to our classrooms, find new ways to up our game, and keep our community safe and functional.

I know we can do it because to be a Jesuit institution means to be innovative, to solve problems with duct tape and ingenuity. To be Jesuit means to be ambitious on behalf of mission and determined beyond measure. And it means to create community regardless of distance, because our values and our passion get us through any obstacle. We don’t have all the answers today, but we have 500 years of Jesuit tradition to help us find the answers. That is the reason, after all, that Loyola weathered the last pandemic in 1918. That is how we survived two world wars that emptied our campus and then filled it with returning veterans. And that is how we weathered Katrina.

Tania Tetlow University President

&know Loyno news worth howling about tell

Loyola University New Orleans College of Law graduates who were first-time test takers achieved the highest bar passage rate among the four law schools in the state on the February 2020 Louisiana State Bar Exam. Loyola University New Orleans College of Law offers both civil law and common law curricula, preparing graduates to practice law in Louisiana, across the nation, and throughout the world.

New Provost Dr. Tanuja Singh joins Loyola this summer as the university’s new provost and senior vice president of academic affairs. In this role, Dr. Singh will lead academic programs at Loyola, working with the president, deans, and faculty to build on the university’s academic strengths.

Dr. Singh comes to Loyola from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, where she has served as Dean of the Greehey School of Business since 2009. Dr. Singh is an award-winning educator whose research and consulting areas include analyzing business and consumer trends for the future of work, especially as they relate to technology, millennials’ attitudes and behaviors, and global and cross-cultural strategy.

Biophysics student Baasel Syed and Dr. John Seefeldt, Chair of the Departments of Art and Design, used the university's 3D-printers in Monroe Hall to create 300 face shields for local healthcare workers. This work was funded by the Almar Foundation.

Mark Yakich, Gregory F. Curtin, S.J. Distinguished Professor of English, received the Dux Academicus award at the President's Spring Convocation earlier this year. This is the highest faculty award presented by Loyola and is given to honor achievements in scholarship, teaching, and service. In addition to writing and teaching, Yakich is director of Loyola's Center for Editing and Publishing, which provides space and support for students and faculty engaged in editing and publishing.

With so much of life taking place online during the COVID-19 pandemic, Loyola’s new undergraduate concentration in cybersecurity is a timely offering. The program, a specialization of a computer science degree, launches in fall 2020 and addresses information security comprehensively – including storage, transmission, applications, and organizational measures needed to preserve and protect sensitive information and systems.

Loyola hosted the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) Cheer and Dance Championships earlier this year in The Den, with the Wolf Pack competitive dance team claiming its fourth consecutive title. The Wolf Pack dance team, led by SSAC Dance Coaches of the Year Rickey Hill and Tiffany Willis, has now won the conference title in all four seasons since the program began in 2016. The cheer team garnered third place in the competition.