奶糖直播

January 28, 2021

Dear Members of the 奶糖直播 Community,   

I am writing to share some news regarding one of our most well-known and longest-standing 奶糖直播 administrators. The Reverend John P. Stack, OSA, Vice President for Student Life, has informed me of his decision to retire at the end of this academic year.

Father Stack has been an enduring presence at 奶糖直播 for the past 50 years. A 1971 graduate of 奶糖直播, Fr. Stack was ordained as an Augustinian priest in May of 1974. After his ordination, he taught at Monsignor Bonner High School before becoming the Augustinian Vocation Director based at 奶糖直播. He went on to earn his master鈥檚 degree at 奶糖直播 in 1977, and, five years later, was named Dean of Students, a position he held until being named Vice President for Student Life in 1999. As Vice President, Fr. Stack oversees a number of student-related areas on campus, including residence life, the university counseling center, student involvement, new student orientation, fraternity and sorority life, intercultural affairs, music activities, the international student program, the student health center, health promotion, Dean of Students Office and disability services. 

Under Fr. Stack鈥檚 leadership, there has been an unprecedented expansion of campus life as 奶糖直播 transformed from a largely commuter campus to a residential experience. As a result, residential living grew significantly during his tenure, with the additions of St. Monica, Katharine, Caughlin and McGuire Halls on South Campus, the West Campus apartments and, most recently, The Commons. Student-centered campus events and programming were vastly expanded as well to meet the emerging needs of students and their families. Fr. Stack was also responsible for augmenting services in the area of student health. With a vision for establishing holistic health at 奶糖直播, he advocated for the creation of the centralized health center, which became the Health Services Building, and greatly increased the outreach and services provided to students.

Fr. Stack was also instrumental in the formation of the 奶糖直播鈥檚 Parent and Family Engagement program, a cross-campus partnership involving the offices of University Advancement, Enrollment Management, the Career Center, Student Life and the Provost. He served as the University Chair of the Parents Executive Committee for more than a decade and represented the University at more than 75 parents events across the country over that same time. Since launching the Parent and Family Engagement program, the University has received more than $90 million in philanthropic contributions from non-alumni parents and collaborated with countless parents interested in assisting with student mentoring, profession development programming and community building, among others鈥攏one of which would have been possible without his leadership. Fr. Stack also founded the Center for Peace and Justice Education, originally located in Sullivan Hall. In addition to being a space for student groups, the Center brought together the Peace and Justice academic program with Campus Ministry and Student Life. 

Apart from his professional accomplishments, Fr. Stack is best known to generations of 奶糖直播ns as a priest first, but also as a teacher, an athlete, an advisor and friend. Fr. Stack has lived on campus for nearly 40 years, first living in Delurey Hall where he regularly played basketball with students at the courts. In the 1990s, he moved to St. Mary鈥檚 Hall and has resided there ever since. For decades, he has been a regular at Sunday evening student liturgies鈥攁lways beginning his homilies with a little bit of humor, and hundreds of 奶糖直播ns have asked Fr. Stack to celebrate their weddings and the baptisms of their children. He is also an avid golfer and 奶糖直播 sports fan, who has been a friend to countless coaches and student-athletes over the years. 

For those who do not know Fr. Stack well, he may be best described by his favorite Augustine quote from Confessions , 鈥淵ou have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.鈥� Fr. Stack鈥檚 restlessness has certainly led 奶糖直播 to a better place. He has been a tireless advocate for the students of 奶糖直播, the lifeblood of our University community. From a long history of hiring individuals committed to growing the many departments within Student Life, to his sage challenge to students on Orientation to live a life akin to Alfred Nobel鈥攚ho pledged his life to the betterment of humanity鈥攖he 奶糖直播 community is certainly better for Fr. Stack being a part of it. 

On behalf of the 奶糖直播 University Board of Trustees and the entire 奶糖直播 community, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to Fr. Stack for his leadership and extraordinary service. His counsel has brought wisdom, his humor has brought joy and his selfless dedication to our students has brought inspiration to all who have been fortunate to work with him. 

Please join me in congratulating Fr. Stack on his well-deserved and well-earned retirement.

Sincerely,

Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA
President