Meet the President - Rockhurst University

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than $4 million in actual and in-kindfunding for programs, staffing andfacilities. The school is part of theNativity Educational Centers Network,whose goal is to break the cycle ofpoverty through education.Fr. Curran said he noticed thatwhen students from the inner citywould come to Salesianum theyweren’t prepared and many wereunable to succeed. Nativity helpsprepare them.“It creates a level playing field,”said Fr. Curran.When the first class graduates inJune, Fr. Curran will be there to givethe graduation address, and he won’tdo it as a stranger. He got to knoweach of the students, even teaching abasic life skills class when they werefifth graders.Fr. Curran At a GlanceThe Rev. Thomas B. Curran, O.S.F.S.BornJune 29, 1955, in PhiladelphiaWhat’s a Salesian?Fr. Curran is a member of a Roman Catholic religious order called the Oblates of St. Francisde Sales, one of the Salesian orders. Louis Brisson, a French priest, founded the Oblates in1875. He drew his inspiration from the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales and the work ofSt. Jane Frances de Chantal.The Web site for the Oblates, www.oblates.org, says the order seeks to “approach eachperson in a gentle and humble way while fostering peace and justice in the world community.”Its apostolic endeavors include Christian education, missions and other pastoral ministries.Additional Salesian orders that espouse the spirituality of St. Frances de Sales include theVisitation of Holy Mary, the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales, the Salesians of Don Bosco andthe Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco, also known as the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.After making the move to highereducation, Fr. Curran found he wasequally at home with college students— literally. For a time, he lived ina residence hall at Regis University,where he says students would dropby for discussion, homework assistanceor confession. But, he’s quick topoint out that he lived in a dorm forupper-class students.“With all due respect to freshmen,I couldn’t live in a freshman dorm,”said Fr. Curran.As someone who has spent mostof his life working with young people,Fr. Curran says he finds that whatthey want most is to be respected,heard and encouraged. This approachguides him even when talking withstudents about matters of religion.“In the past, the church relationshipwas more expectational,” saidFr. Curran. “With our college-agestudents, they’re more inclined toembrace an invitation rather than anexpectation.”EducationM.B.A., Saint Joseph’s University, 1997J.D., The Catholic University of America,1992M.A., Liberal Studies, Public Policy andGovernment, Georgetown University,1985M.A., Theology, DeSales School of Theology,1984B.A., Politics, DeSales University, 1978Most recent positionAssociate Vice President for UniversityRelations and Assistant to the President,Regis University, Denver.Becomes president of Rockhurst UniversityJune 2006Favorite workoutRunningFavorite movieTo Kill a MockingbirdFavorite bookWon’t commit to one, but recently hasenjoyed books on Ireland, historicalbiographies and murder mysteriesFr. Curran and Regis University seniors Brian Couch and Allison Hingtgen discusstheir plans for the future.10 Rockhurst4spring 2006
Still, Fr. Curran sometimesencounters parents who ask why theuniversity doesn’t make their childrenattend Mass.“Some people think we shouldturn up the volume on the invitation.”This isn’t meant to imply thatFr. Curran hasn’t found a role to playin students’ religious formation.“So what does that require of me,Tom Curran? It requires that I livemy life in such a way that it invitespeople to Christ,” he said.Fr. Curran takes to the skies in a hot air balloon.Fr. Curran pours wine at the Mass forthe groundbreaking of the new chapelat Regis University.Having an arsenal of conversationtopics in addition to faith and religionprobably helps open a few doorsas well. Fr. Curran is an avid runner,although he says he runs OMP — oldman pace. He’s a movie buff who sawall five of this year’s best picture nominees.And, he is the proud owner ofthat ubiquitous icon of pop culture,a video iPod.The iPod was a gift from friends, afamily with seven children. Fr. Curransaid the children fought over whowould get to train him how to usehis new toy, but he appalled them bybreaking it in by downloading “Meetthe Press.”“You are so weird,” they told him.Today the iPod holds an eclecticcollection of nearly 1,200 songs,almost 25 percent of it Christmasmusic. When he’s not celebrating theholidays, Fr. Curran says he shufflesthrough tunes from performers suchas Celine Dion, Simon and Garfunkel,Phil Collins, the Beach Boys,George Winston, Michael Bublé,Harry Connick Jr. and Shania Twain.He also enjoys big band.In March, Fr. Curran’s favorite songwas Enya’s “If I Could Be Where YouAre,” which he says he found veryreflective. He was still thinking of hisfather, still enjoying being the son.In March, Fr. Curran’s favorite song wasone that reminded him of his father.Presidential InaugurationFr. Curran gives horseback ridinga try on a vacation with friends inSouthwest Colorado.Fr. Curran will assume his full-time duties as president of Rockhurst University in June,but his inauguration Mass and installation ceremony will be held Friday, Oct. 27.The annual Rockhurst University Gala will take place the following night, Saturday, Oct. 28.Look for information in the coming months in your mailbox and at www.rockhurst.eduabout how to register for these events.Rockhurst4spring 2006 11
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Meet the President - Rockhurst University

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