FORT WAYNE, Ind.—The University of Saint Francis inaugurated Sister Maria Gemma Salyer, OSF, as its 12th president on Thursday, celebrating the installation with students, faculty, staff, supporters, and state and local dignitaries. Family and friends of the new president also attended, along with the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, the university sponsor.
In her address at the Hutzell Athletic Center, Sister Maria Gemma shared how university namesake St. Francis of Assisi’s love for the Catholic church ultimately inspired her to join the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration.
“My hope for all of us is that there are always new opportunities to encounter the Lord in a deeper way,” she said. “And I pray that this university, with our renewed mission statement, will shine brightly as a beacon of hope and a place where Jesus Christ is known and loved.”
The Saint Francis mission statement states: The University of Saint Francis offers formation of the whole person by providing an encounter with the heart and mind of Jesus Christ so that God, who is Love, may be loved. Through our Catholic identity, Franciscan charism, and liberal arts tradition, we prepare students for personal and professional lives of virtue, service, and joy.
“This is why we exist as a Catholic university,” Sister Maria Gemma said. “As Pope Saint John Paul II stated in his document, Ex Corde Ecclesiae, Catholic universities are born from the heart of the Church. He says that, as a university, we share with all universities the joy of seeking truth in each field of knowledge. But as a Catholic university, we have the unique and privileged task of combining the search for truth with the certainty of already knowing the fount of truth.
“So, at Saint Francis,” she continued, “when our mission tasks us with providing an encounter with the heart and mind of Jesus Christ, we are tasked with helping our students seek truth that they might encounter Him, Jesus, the source of truth and truth itself. And we stake our success as an institution on the fact that knowing God makes a difference in our disciplines, in our relationships, and in our very lives.”
Sister Maria Gemma explained how Saint Francis’ core values of ceaseless adoration, generous love and Franciscan joy unite the university closely with the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration.
She pointed to a “renewed vigor” around the core values on campus.
“I see, time and time again, those professors who spend extra time helping a student understand difficult subject matter, or helping them register for the right classes; our coaches who stay late or come in early to help our students excel outside of the classroom; and the student life and mission programming teams who pour themselves into fostering a campus environment where our mission can be realized and our students can flourish.”
Sister Maria Gemma has always loved learning and trying to understand the “why” behind everything, she said. She became intent on studying theology because it’s impossible to learn everything about God. Eventually, she took to heart the words of a professor who encouraged students to consider devoting themselves to a religious life. That professor’s words changed her life and ultimately led her to where she is today.
“To the faculty present here today, I share this story to show how one yes to your vocation as teacher and your own faithfulness to Christianity can change the trajectory of a life forever,” she said. “And students, ask your beautiful questions and let yourselves be curious about what God might have in store for your future – it is a future full of hope!”
The inauguration was held in the Hutzell Athletic Center, preceded by a private Mass in the Oratory of St. Francis and followed by a reception in Brookside.
Vice President for Institutional Advancement Reba Copeland welcomed attendees to the ceremony prior to the National Anthem, as performed by Sister Mary Amata Naville, OSF, and the invocation by Saint Francis Chaplain Rev. Oscar Duarte. Greetings were given by Saint Francis student Ana Wiegmann, alumnus Nicholas Yack (BA ’03, MBA ’05), Professor of Philosophy Dr. Lewis Pearson and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Richard Poinsatte. Others who shared their greetings were Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration Provincial Superior Sister Margaret Mary Mitchel, OSF; Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend Most Reverend Kevin C. Rhoades; Independent College of Indiana Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Laura Bridges; Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities Executive Director for Mission Debi Haug; and Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker.
Poinsatte directed the installation and pianist Ramon DeMond provided a musical interlude following Sister Maria Gemma’s inaugural address.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. The academic structure at Saint Francis offers seven pathways: Humanities, Faith and Liberal Arts; Allied Health; Business and Leadership; Creative Arts and Digital Media; Education, Human Services and Community Care; Nursing; and Sciences and Medical Studies. In addition to its traditional programs, Saint Francis delivers workforce development healthcare programs in Fort Wayne, Crown Point, Gas City, Indianapolis, Lafayette and online. Saint Francis Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. A National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Five-Star Champion of Character institution, Saint Francis has 17 athletic programs boasting three individual and four team NAIA national championships. More than 2,100 students from a broad geographic region attend Saint Francis.