Dr. Gingerich at the Meet and Greet Event held in Highmark Stadium
Photo courtesy of St. Bonaventure University
BY: HADLEY THOMPSON, NEWS EDITOR
The Inauguration of the 22nd President of St. Bonaventure University, Dr. Jeff Gingerich, will take place this Saturday at 1 p.m. As this celebration approaches, students and faculty in the Bonaventure community anticipate the future they have envisioned for the university with Gingerich as their executive leader.
Meghan Hall, Bonaventure class of ‘22, was a part of the committee that selected Gingerich in her time as the president of the Student Government Association.
“I’m looking forward to Dr. Gingerich being inaugurated this weekend and confident in the future of St. Bonaventure under him. He has already begun meeting the campus community and the alumni, and I think his values align exceedingly well with the university,” Hall said. “The presidential search process was a long-term project that ended up with a great result, and I’m glad to have been part of it. This inauguration officially marks the beginning of an exciting time for SBU.”
Like Hall, Connor Raine, SGA’s current president and junior sports management major, emphasized that he knows Gingerich is a welcoming person who takes time to collaborate with student organizations.
“The first month of him being here, we have met with him a couple times and have began working with him on some initiatives that we, as student leaders, would like to accomplish,” Raine said. “This is a great quality to have as a university president.”
Like Raine and Hall, Aaron Chimbel, dean of the Jandoli School of Communication, remembers during the interview process how the deans of each school met with all the candidates. He vividly recalls walking away with the feeling that Gingerich, “ … Exuded Franciscanism and the spirit of this university in a way that made him a very natural fit to be our president.”
Gingerich’s leading qualities that made him the right choice have prevailed throughout his time already spent on campus. Tom Missel, the chief communication officer at Bonaventure, said that in the few months he has worked alongside Gingerich, it is clear how much relationships mean to him. This is important, Missel said, because that is what Bonaventure is all about.
“What struck me most in being involved with Inauguration planning was how much Dr. Gingerich wanted the final event of the weekend to be a community picnic where everyone could participate,” Missel said.
Students have noticed this choice of a celebration, as well as Missel, and feel that it shows prioritization of what is important to them; being together.
Megan Bickert, a junior health science major, said that she can tell Gingerich has students best interest in mind.
“We’re excited to have a president that prioritizes the students and does everything with our best interest in mind,” Bickert said. “All students can comfortably attend and meet him and welcome him into our community in a way that encompasses what St. Bonaventure is actually like instead of solely having some fancy dinner.”
Joseph Zimmer, provost and vice president for academic affairs, who has spent time in the executive role of the university, knows Gingerich’s potential. The Bolder Bonaventure Campaign, an investment in the people, places and programs of Bonaventure will grow because of Gingerich.
“The goals for facilities, scholarships and endowments [of the campaign] will improve the campus and bring opportunities to attend St. Bonaventure to more students,” Zimmer said. “I have great confidence that President Gingerich will be able to build on the successes St. Bonaventure has had over the past several years and set the university up for success well into the future.”
Zimmer said that his main advice for Gingerich is to enjoy the ride.
“St. Bonaventure is an amazing community that is alive, engaged and passionate,” Zimmer said. “Tapping and channeling that energy toward helping out current students is one of the major challenges of the presidency.” With all of the hopes, expectations and anticipation for the new chapter that is Gingerich’s presidential role, the student-centric president said that getting to know the family that is Bonaventure has been an experience like no other.
“Listening to the stories of alumni has been inspiring. I’ve most felt the strong sense of the Bonaventure family, though, when talking with students, faculty and staff on campus,” Gingerich said. “There is great pride in our community here on campus and I’m so excited to be part of that.”
As far as for the Inauguration, Gingerich hopes that it will be a celebration of the past, present and future. He shared his own eagerness to become even more of a part of the family.
“I’m especially looking forward to hosting friends and family and showing them the beautiful Bona’s campus,” Gingerich said. “These rituals and celebrations help us to remember our Fransican tradition and plan for a bright future for the university.”
thompshp20@bonaventure.edu
