More than a dozen times President Dana Mohler-Faria has presided over the annual holiday luncheon. However, this one, he admits was different.
With his plans to step down in June, the president told a Tillinghast Dining Hall packed with faculty and staff, that preparing for this year’s luncheon gave him pause.
“It occurred to me that this will be a year filled with a lot of ‘lasts,’” he said.
While he admitted to some sadness over this fact, the president said the overriding feeling is one of excitement about the continued success of the institution.
“We are undergoing a real change. This is the end of an era,” he said, citing the 25 years that he and his predecessor, Dr. Adrian Tinsley, spent at Bridgewater’s helm and the challenges that were met and the success the institution enjoyed. “It is also the beginning of another era… One I hope will surpass what has already happened.”
In July, Dr. Mohler-Faria will be succeeded by Frederick Clark Jr., whom he introduced at the event, remarking he “couldn’t be happier” with the selection made by the search committee and approved earlier this month by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education. Mr. Clark takes over July 1.
The president was effusive with his thanks and good wishes for the faculty and staff gathered at the luncheon.
“The people we have on this campus and what you do, it’s amazing,” he said. “It’s been amazing for me to be part of (this).”
There was a moment of silence for the recently deceased Dr. Jean Stonehouse, longtime professor of history. The president also introduced Louis Ricciardi, ’81, who recently stepped down from the Board of Trustees, and thanked him for his quarter century of service to the institution.
In the end, President Mohler-Faria returned to the theme that recurred throughout his address. After wishing faculty and staff a happy holiday, he concluded with another show of gratitude.
“Just thank you for being the people you are,” he said. (Story and photo by John Winters, G ’11, University News)