A Message from Dean Bill Tolman
As we enter the final stretch of the fall 2024 semester, we are still basking in the glow of the announcement of the extraordinary commitment of $20M to elevate the arts at St. Thomas by John Monahan '73. We are thrilled and humbled by John’s generosity and his trust in us to support his wishes to ensure that arts education is a central component of the transformative experiences of all students at St. Thomas. As the funds arrive over time, they will be used to help recruit and retain faculty, provide scholarships, and support programming in the arts, broadly defined to include theater, performance, storytelling, creative writing, music, film studies/production, digital media (photography, videography and live production), visual arts, art history and analysis, and adjacent fields. There’s a thread that connects the opening of the Schoenecker Center to John’s gift, and we expect that thread will be woven into an even larger tapestry: his action will inspire others who value creative expression to put their trust in St. Thomas to foster the arts and arts education.
It's worth repeating some of the comments made at the announcement ceremony. Heather Shirey, Chair of the Department of Art History, noted: “In my own work as an art historian focusing on art in public space, I have talked with artists and members of the public about how art can empower us, both personally and collectively, how art facilitates dialogue, and how art can provide insights into the lives and experiences of others, fostering empathy.” She added: “When we engage with different kinds of artistic expression, we nurture our empathy and creativity, as well as critical thinking. This exploration fosters personal growth and, when we can share those experiences with others, we create stronger community connections.”
President Vischer said: “We are called to help form the whole person – body mind and spirit – as we prepare our students for lifelong flourishing, not just as future employees, but as community leaders, spouses, parents, neighbors, and engaged citizens. One component of this formation is ensuring that our students are exposed to, surrounded by, and appreciative of beauty – and that they have opportunities to contribute to the beauty on our campus and in the broader world. That means we need to take the arts seriously at St. Thomas.” He added: “And as a Catholic university, our commitment to the arts is inseparable from our commitment to our faith tradition. When I say that, I’m not just talking about religious art. I’m talking about art more broadly – art and faith both stretch us to look beyond ourselves to something bigger, calling us to experience the transcendent, to explore more deeply what it means to be human, to be nudged out of our comfort zones so that we can grow in our understanding of the world.”
Two students also spoke. Abby Elfner, Performance Director of the Theater Club said: “In my time at St. Thomas, few things have been as fulfilling as watching fellow students be on stage and express themselves in ways that are independent from any other aspect of their lives.” And Rachel Clement, co-founder of the 480 Collective, the new student-led record label, and a member of multiple choral groups, including Donne Unite and Cadenza, added: “In these organizations, only a few of us are arts majors. We’re joined by students from engineering, business, healthcare, and more, all sharing a commitment and passion for the arts. John Monahan’s gift will ensure that future students can continue to make the arts a vibrant part of their lives. It’s an investment in our future, giving us tools, spaces, and resources to create, collaborate, and innovate like never before.”
I’m equally hopeful and enthusiastic about the power of arts education for our students. I’m so very grateful to John for his friendship and support. And I look forward to elevating our efforts in arts education across CAS and the university in the years to come.
Bill Tolman
Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
