Being the Light in the Darkness

April 2, 2026

Being the Light in the Darkness

As we approach Easter break and, after that, the celebration of our graduates, I feel like the message of Easter is coming at me like water from a fire hose. Resurrection. New Life. Hope. Being sent on the new journey. For those of us who are veterans of academia, I expect that a new class of graduates year after year feels normal. For our seniors, it probably feels like their graduation is a long time coming. But for those of us who are newer to university life, the approach of graduation may feel rushed.

I have been working at Xavier for almost two years now. Last August was my second experience of opening day. Celebrating opening day two years in a row made sense to me. Every year I had to pose for my mom for the obligatory “first-day-of-school” picture. But I am now preparing for my second Academic Honors Celebration, followed by my second Commencement. This is what is making my head spin. Education is no longer a long process. As faculty and staff, we experience all four years of higher education, over and over again, every year, in just nine short months.

Please accept my gratitude and admiration for all you do for our students and our university year in and year out.

I think the message of Easter is important for us to reflect on at this time of the year. Right when we are about to fall back in the groove of regalia and ceremony, we are reminded that this is not just a cyclical deadline approaching which, once met, ends in a much-needed summer break. This is a new beginning, for our students and for us.

Easter reminds us that the darkness never wins. Death does not conquer life. Many of us are struggling with something in our lives. But we are called to be that light which brings about hope and life. How do we do that? We can learn how to better support our students at the Accommodation Letters: A Conversation with Students event hosted by CASSK. We can assist with the shaping of the future of our college by supporting the CAS Vision Task Force. We can use the Core Course Readiness Institute and the upcoming summer to develop new creative ways to both promote the core values and bring new life to our courses. We can attend, and maybe even bring our families, to an event on campus to support our colleagues and their students. As we approach Easter break, I invite you to consider, what is one way you are going to bring new life to campus when you return?

May I be the first to wish you, on behalf of the Deans’ Office, Easter blessings and a restful holiday break.

Michelle Blevins
CAS Operations Specialist, Deans' Office