Fitzgerald leaving

By Tom Sullivan

Paul Fitzgerald, S.J., has played many roles at Santa Clara, but his time here is coming to an end.

Fitzgerald will take over as senior vice president of academic affairs at Fairfield University in Connecticut this summer.

When the senior associate dean first came to the university 33 years ago, he was just an undergraduate. After graduating, he joined the Jesuit order and returned to Santa Clara to work as a teacher and administrator in 1997.

He said of his undergraduate experience, "I loved it. I had four really good years here."

Longtime friend and colleague Mick McCarthy, S.J., joined the Jesuits one year after Fitzgerald did.

"He is very energetic, a deeply committed man, a really good priest. He cares about people and has loved Santa Clara," McCarthy said. "I think he has given his heart and soul to the university. I understand why he is moving on, but we're all going to miss him."

Fitzgerald has been working in the Office of the Dean for five years.

He served his first three years as associate dean before his promotion two years ago to senior associate dean.

His responsibilities consisted of helping various departments within the College of Arts and Sciences, assisting each department chair hire and evaluate faculty, help with course planning and to work with department budgets.

Since 2001, Fitzgerald has also been the director of the Catholic Studies Program, and he taught the capstone colloquium for minors studying in that program.

"I worked on a lot of behind the scenes stuff," he said. "When you go to class, all the things you expect to be in a classroom are there, that there is a good instructor and that you have a good educational experience."

Friend and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Atom Yee said Fitzgerald will be missed.

"Fitzgerald has done a lot for Santa Clara, especially as I've worked with him in the Dean's Office, and we're going to really miss him," he said. "On the other hand, this is a good opportunity for professional development and advancement."

Yee said Fitzgerald has contributed a lot to the Dean's Office. "He's been a great influence in the college, " he said. "In terms of his administrative and leadership skills, Fairfield is a good fit for him."

Fitzgerald said living in Connecticut will be a big change. "I'm probably going to have to wear more clothes, in the winter anyway," he said.

One of his jobs at Fairfield will be to help the university to diversify the students, faculty and staff, he said.

"The difference is that at Santa Clara you have a very diverse and inclusive community. At Fairfield it's still much more homogenous," he said.

Although Fitzgerald is excited about his new opportunities, he said he will certainly miss what he is leaving behind at Santa Clara.

"I'm going to miss a lot of people here," he said. "It's a really good community, and I'm looking forward to a similar experience at Fairfield."

Contact Tom Sullivan at (408) 554-4546 or tsullivan@scu.edu.