UST in the News

Building on a Catholic Identity

Texas Medical Center Pulse Magazine, the Texas Catholic Herald and the Cardinal Newman Society turned the spotlight on Dr. Richard Ludwick upon his arrival at UST and during his Oct. 27 inauguration ceremony. At the inauguration, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo said, “The sensibility here is the Church is not an infringement but, in fact, is an enlargement of mind, heart and the academic life and all things related to our most important people at the University: our students. There’s a great, great tradition here; at the same time, there’s always a need for a newness and a beginning.”

School of Education Creates a more Unified Society, one Child at a Time

Houston Chronicle blog Gray Matters published “How do we heal our social divide? It starts with teachers,” written by School of Education and Human Services Professors Dr. Catherine Barber and Dr. Janet McCollum. At UST, teachers were asked to explore their values and consider how they might interact with others who have different values. This exercise helps teachers reflect on how their values affect their decisions and actions. It also encourages teachers to consider how they can be true to their own values while respecting the values of others.

Looking back at the Irish Legacy in America, Houston

Lori Gallagher, director of the Center for Irish Studies, reflected on “St. Patrick’s Day tells a story of building America,” in a recent Houston Chronicle op-ed piece. Irish contributions to America include being among the signers of the Declaration of Independence and presidents of the United States. She notes that in Houston, the Irish have contributed to the oil and gas industry, medicine, science, engineering, finance and especially education. In 1947, the Basilian Fathers, many of Irish decent, emigrated from France and founded UST.

Campuses Benefit from Presence of Immigrants

Lindsey McPherson, assistant vice president for Student Success at the University of St. Thomas, talked with a reporter from Our Sunday Visitor in March. She reflects on how immigrant students at Catholic universities seek a sense of belonging. She believes at UST these students can find their place in various activities or leadership roles. “These students all have fascinating backgrounds that not only add to the diversity of campus but help to enrich the conversations on campus,” McPherson said.