President’s Letter
Dear Friends,
It’s a gift to see the Holy Spirit’s movements of grace take flesh on campus. I’m watching Christ the Teacher Hall grow up; seeing our students enjoy our upgraded athletic facilities and increased scholarships and financial aid; and hearing the buzz about Christ the King Chapel renovations to come.
As always, I’m grateful to all our benefactors who, with their gifts and prayerful support, are making the Rebuild My Church Capital Campaign a resounding success! But I’d especially like to highlight the important role of Franciscan University’s Board of Trustees in getting this campaign off the ground.
Our trustees are a diverse group: religious, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, and business executives and owners. Each brings a unique perspective and a wealth of experience and expertise. United in their love for Franciscan University’s mission, they work together to keep us on mission and financially secure. Many of them support Franciscan University with substantial financial gifts as well. And, as you’ll see in the following article, they have more great ideas than we can keep up with!
When it came time to decide whether to step out in faith with our very ambitious Rebuild My Church Campaign, our leadership team was overwhelmed by their support. Many of them had been sensing the Holy Spirit’s movement as well. The trustees said it made sense. It was time.
So much to give thanks and praise for! Our wonderful trustees. Our alumni and friends. Our students, faculty, staff, and friars. I thank God for you all—and for the Lord’s countless blessings!
Peace,
Father Dave Pivonka, TOR ’89
President
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Invested in Our Students
“I see donations as investments,” says Dr. Dan McMahon, “and I look for an investment that has a high return.”
Dan is a pediatric genitourinary surgeon in Ohio. He and his wife, Nancy, have invested generously in Franciscan University for many years. They like the returns.
The two oldest of their six children, Meagan ’12 and Erin ’14, attended Franciscan. The other four were interested in Franciscan, but it didn’t have the majors they wanted. One son, for instance, wanted to be an engineer. Franciscan didn’t have full engineering programs at that time. That was a problem, says Dan. He and Nancy supported a science scholarship; then when the Rebuild My Church Campaign opened, they donated to the engineering lab.
Dan is a member of Franciscan University’s Board of Trustees, a group of 23 priests, religious, and lay people with diverse careers, experience, and opinions but unified in their work to protect and promote the mission of Franciscan University.
“The world is falling apart. The culture of death is accelerating,” says Dan. What stands against that is “a well-structured family and a well-structured Church. We give money to Franciscan to build the Church in society.”
Which sometimes means building buildings. And training the building engineers.
“Engineering teaches thinking in a rigorous way,” says Dan. “It’s a good thing in its own right.”
