Mission Driven
You began your career at Suffolk in 1987. What kept you here for 29 years?
I fell in love with the students. The commitment they had to their education while they were commuting to campus, and working full- and part-time jobs and had responsibilities at home was amazing. I was just so impressed with their eagerness to learn and achieve. And I felt that what we were doing provided some pretty wonderful opportunities for students to engage with the community and with each other. As the student body grew and diversified, the need for student services increased and the student affairs division expanded from six departments or programs to 15 departments—a very wide and diverse operation which is a legacy that makes me very proud.
When you look back on your years at Suffolk now, what do you remember most vividly?
There was real warmth and caring, and an eagerness to do right by the students and their experience. People talked about the family feeling of Suffolk. That started to change a bit as the institution got larger, but there was still the strong community sense that I think we all valued.
If you had to describe Suffolk in one word, what would it be?
Opportunity. I think Suffolk delivers on what it offers to students. In many cases, Suffolk actually expands the vision that students have of their own potential—they find it to be larger and more extensive than they ever thought it could be. That sort of growth is invaluable, and Suffolk provides an environment where that can happen. Suffolk makes resources easy to access, and the faculty are caring.
You’ve been giving back to Suffolk for 29 years now. Why have you given, year in and year out?
I felt it was important to give back to the place that was giving me professional opportunities, and as a show of my faith in the institution and its values. I also think it’s the obligation of staff and faculty, especially in senior positions, to be models for contributing to the institution.
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spring 2025
By Kathleen Peets
SUMMA SOCIETY PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE DONOR
FROST SOCIETY MEMBER
FOUNDER AND CONVENER, SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY RETIRED FRIENDS (SURF)
HERITAGE MEDALLION RECIPIENT
