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t m c » p u l s e | o c t o b e r 2 0 1 7 11 for Science and Health Professions. I think he has a particular gift in developing relationships with donors and those outside the community, so that is certainly an area that I hope to continue and develop. I also think that it is useful to have someone with a slightly different skill set come along. I see myself in that way, having worked with student affairs in the past and having been an academic leader on another college campus. Q | UST sits in the heart of Houston, with close proximity to many resources, including the Texas Medical Center. Are you looking forward to a continued partnership with the TMC? A | This has been a real eye-opener for me to come to this community and learn more about the Texas Medical Center. I am not necessarily a native in the health care field, however my wife is a pharmacist and she has worked for both small and very large health systems in the past. She has a head start on me, of course, in understanding what the Texas Medical Center is and what it does and how the University of St. Thomas can fit within that. We are a relatively new member of the medical center, and I think we are just now scratching the surface of what that relationship means. We will look for ways to engage and to push the envelope of innovation in terms of how academics and health care can work together. Q | You and your wife, Melynda, have two children. Where are they now? A | We have our daughter, Christiana, she is in Indianapolis, and her husband, Michael. They have two children, Gabriel and Pia, so we are grandparents and we are very excited about that. Our son, Richie, is currently in Indianapolis, but he has taken a new job at a consulting firm in south Florida. Q | You are the ninth president of UST. What are the biggest challenges that have arisen since you started in July? A | You always have surprises and challenges that come along daily. One day it might be meeting the new freshman class and shaking all of their hands, and the next day it might be talking to people about how the new costume for our mascot, Lenny the Lion, might look. Then you have some that are sad and very challenging. I certainly didn't expect that something called 'Harvey' would strike our city, but it did. People are suffering, including some of our own students, faculty and staff at UST. But the incredible compas- sion and spirit of resilience I've witnessed at UST and across the region is truly extraordinary. Something like this requires a community response, and our cam- pus community is responding, not only with action, but with care and love. We've dubbed it #CeltCare, and it's a multi-disciplinary approach to assessing needs and helping those who were adversely impacted by Harvey. We're speaking to each student, faculty and staff member individually, and if they need help, we're doing all we can to act quickly and provide assistance. Thankfully, generous donors and volunteers are step- ping up to help us, and that help comes in different forms, from financial assistance with tuition, books and other school-related expenses, to flexible schedul- ing, carpools, counseling and opportunities for com- munity fellowship. The goal is to keep our students in school, because I really believe that the education we offer makes our graduates hurricane-proof, in a sense. It will empower them financially, emotionally and spiritually to handle life's challenges—even ones like Harvey. You just never know what the day will present, but we have the confidence and the faith to know that the Lord works good for all those who love Him, and we do. Richard L. Ludwick, J.D., D.Ed., was interviewed by Pulse reporter Britni N. Riley. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Houston has an incredible community that is resilient and will recover in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. As we move forward, we must all take pride in Houston and continue to work together in rebuilding our diverse and dynamic city. If you or someone you know is in need of guidance on whether to rebuild or sell, Beth Wol! Realtors can help you to better understand all of the necessary steps involved when analyzing the home's value. 713-622-9339 www.bethwolff.com Museum District Hedwig Village Old Braeswood Memorial Close In Garden Oaks