President's Message
Spirit Dear friends,
Business etiquette experts say it only takes a
matter of seconds to make a fi rst impression,
and I could not agree more. From the moment
I stepped foot on campus, this university has
made me feel at home, and I know many others
have felt the same. At every education center I
have visited, the feeling has been identical.
When I ask current students and alumni to
share what they like most about Saint Leo, our
family-like culture comes up repeatedly. The
family community here is part of what makes our university unique and our graduates
successful. Families are nurturing. They support us and push us to achieve more than we
thought possible.
In this issue of Spirit, we take a close look at the people who are a part of the Saint Leo
University family. Families can take diff erent shapes and sizes, and you’ll fi nd that Saint
Leo is home to many types. There are faculty and staff who go above and beyond to
make students feel at home, generations of families who choose Saint Leo as their university,
and alumni who continue to maintain relationships well beyond graduation.
In her commencement address this past spring, Cassidy Whitaker ’18, shared a personal
account of how she grew to love Saint Leo. “My friends and mentors became my family,
and this campus and this town became my second home,” she said.
I hope these stories bring you feelings of home—wherever you are. Your Saint Leo University
is always here for you.
Very sincerely yours,
Jeff rey D. Senese, Ph.D.
President
Spirit magazine is published twice each year by
the Offi ce of University Communications, Saint
Leo University. Please direct correspondence
about this publication to the Offi ce of University
Communications, Saint Leo University, University
Campus–MC 2266, P.O. Box 6665, Saint Leo,
FL, 33574-6665. Readers also may reach staff by
sending an email to news@saintleo.edu.
Editorial Staff
Denny Moller
University Vice President of
Advancement & Communications
Marie Cirelli Thornsberry
Director of Communications
Jo-Ann Johnston
Academic Communications Manager
Mary McCoy
University Writer & Media Relations
Benjamin Watters
Art Director
Renee Gerstein
Senior Graphic Designer
Jason Longo
Communications Specialist & Webmaster
The opinions expressed in this magazine are
those of the authors and do not necessarily
represent the views of the university.
© Saint Leo University. All rights reserved.
Proofreader:
John David Harding, Daniel A. Cannon
Memorial Library
Photo Credits:
Jeremy S. Buddemeier, Savannah District, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers; Renee Gerstein;
Golden Legend staff ; Early Jackson; Jo-Ann
Johnston; Ron Jones Photography; Cliff
McBride Photography; Photographic Memories
by Vic; RGB Imaging; Saint Leo Athletics;
Jonathan Shoemaker; William S. Speer;
Amanda Topper; Benjamin Watters
Class Notes:
Alumni who wish to submit news for Class Notes
may send an email to engagement.giving@
saintleo.edu. JPEG images are welcome.
Submissions will be edited for content and
clarity, and we will publish as many submissions
as space will allow. By submitting a class note,
you give Saint Leo University permission to
edit and publish your information in university
publications.
/saintleo.edu
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