Energies of the new semester

August 21, 2025

After experiencing a relatively quiet summer in Alter Hall, I am delighted to watch the campus coming alive again.

Students are everywhere — chatting on the lawn, finding their classrooms, and yes, still wearing shorts with Uggs boots in August. They carry that unmistakable mix of excitement and nerves that comes with the start of something new. It is worth taking a moment to reflect on this newness.

When I think of our students, I see them at different points in their Xavier journeys. Our seniors, like my oldest daughter, are savoring the familiarity of being in classes with friends and professors they know well, while also feeling the weight of decisions about what comes next — graduate school, jobs, service opportunities. That combination of comfort and uncertainty defines so much of senior year.

And then there are our first-year students, like my middle daughter, whom I just dropped off at a faraway college campus. Their energy is bright but fragile. They need help finding their footing — whether that’s getting their textbooks, settling into dorm life, or simply navigating where to be and when. It took four trips to Target and one to Wegmans before my daughter felt ready to begin. At Xavier, Manresa and the many orientation programs we run play a vital role in helping students take those first steps. I’m reminded of how extraordinary our staff and student leaders are in welcoming them with such care and enthusiasm.

And then there is all of you, my colleagues. The first week of the semester is one of my favorite times of year (second only to submitting final grades!). Everything feels fresh and possible. We are eager to teach, to advise, to dive back into research, to connect with students in meaningful ways. At the same time, I know the semester’s demands weigh on us too — deadlines, responsibilities, and the challenge of balancing so many commitments. The beginning of the term holds both energy and burden.

As we move into this semester, my hope is that we lean on one another, much as our students lean on us. That we remember that we, the members of the College of Arts and Sciences, are not carrying our burdens alone. May these coming months bring us joy in our teaching, growth in our scholarship, and insight in our community.

Dr. Dena Morton
Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Professor, Mathematics