Issue link: https://tmcpulse.uberflip.com/i/900421
t m c » p u l s e | o c t o b e r 2 0 1 7 10 Spotlight This summer, the University of St. Thomas welcomed a new president, RICHARD L. LUDWICK, J.D., D.ED. Previously, the Indiana native served as president of the Independent Colleges of Indiana, America's oldest state association of private colleges. Q | Why University of St. Thomas? A | For me personally, that is an interesting discus- sion. About 15 years ago, I sat down and made a list of colleges that I thought matched my personal motiva- tion for service and had some other things—diversity within the student body and faculty, an urban location, a fit between meaning and method. I made a list of 10 colleges that I thought fit that very nicely. The University of St. Thomas was in the top five of that list—and that was 15 years ago. As time went by and I had occasion to learn more about UST, I was more con- vinced that it was the right place to be. It came to pass that Dr. Robert Ivany, UST's last president, announced that he would retire, and I just threw my hat in the ring, like I'm sure so many others did. Whether it was provi- dence or just the measure of the search, they asked me to join them and I was more than delighted to do that. Part of my background, too, matches very well with the mission, the DNA of the University of St. Thomas as a Catholic institution in the Basilian tradition. Goodness, discipline, knowledge and community are things that are not just a tagline but are lived out here, and that is something that resonates deeply within me. Q | You are very active in the Catholic church and the Knights of Columbus. Is being Catholic an essential part of leading a Catholic university? A | We talk a lot here about the notion of vocation, the understanding of the gifts that one has and how they are able to continue God's creation by having those gifts and bringing them to the fore. For me, that's a natural outgrowth of my faith and the ability to bring it to full blossom in service to this university. Certainly, there are some who are not Catholic who are skilled leaders within a Catholic university, but I think it is one of those things that gives you an additional level of understanding. Q | You have held leadership positions at several institutions, including the University of Oregon School of Law and the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Would you say you have a certain leadership style? A | I believe that there is wisdom in decisions of the crowd. I try to create an atmosphere—an environment— where creativity can flourish and the best ideas come forward. And with any luck at all, we will come up with the right ones. Q | UST's previous president, Robert Ivany, Ph.D., left some pretty big shoes to fill. How do you hope to expand on his work and make your own mark on campus? A | He is … we actually wear the same size shoes. Dr. Ivany does leave big shoes to fill and certainly you can look at the accomplishments that he has had— the seminal one at the end here is UST's new Center