University president resigns to take on expanded role in Rome

By Liz O'Brien

After a 20-year tenure as university president, Paul Locatelli, S.J., announced he will be resigning from his position during the 2008-2009 school year. Locatelli's responsibilities within the global Jesuit community were expanded during last month's General Congregation in Rome, causing him to finalize his decision to step down as president.

"It became painfully evident that stepping down is the only fair and right thing to do, because I cannot divide my time and energy between two jobs and do what is best as president," Locatelli stated in an e-mail to the campus community.

Locatelli was appointed Secretary for Higher Education in December 2006 and has since balanced his time between that title and his role as president. But now his expanded responsibilities as Intellectual Apostolate will likely require 75 to 80 percent of his time, making that balancing act virtually impossible, said Executive Assistant to the President Jim Briggs.

Though Locatelli is still four years away from finishing his current six-year term, Briggs said since Locatelli's appointment in 2006, he and other trustees suspected his role in Rome might be expanded.

"I think there was certainly the sense that this (Secretary for Higher Education) might become a full-time job for him," Briggs said.

The opportunity to take on more responsibility with the Jesuits arose during February and March's 35th General Congregation in Rome, which Locatelli attended.

After consulting the Superior General and members of the executive committee, Locatelli made his resignation public in a campus-wide e-mail on the morning of March 14.

Locatelli's new position will entail three main points, he said. The first will be organizing collaboration among over 100 Jesuit institutions worldwide, faculty and programs. The second will entail outlining programs for new Jesuit institutions, and the third will be to determine a strategic directive that defines Jesuit institutions as specifically Jesuit, he said.

His new position will require traveling the globe throughout the year, and though he expressed a readiness to accept the role, he said he is also aware of the challenges he will face.

With Locatelli's departure in the near future, the Board of Trustees has begun the process of determining his successor. A selection committee comprised of board members and administrative staff is currently being selected, and that committee will choose a Jesuit who meets their qualifications, which include experience in university relations, fundraising and a strategic vision, said Briggs.

"The search has already begun in the sense that even though the committee hasn't been formed," Briggs said. "Letters have gone out to people--presidents of other Jesuit universities, the Jesuit association of colleges, informing them that Father Locatelli has stepped down and that this position is going to be available."

Locatelli will advise the selection committee upon their request, Briggs said, but will not be directly involved in the selection of his successor.

The date of Locatelli's official resignation will depend on the availability of the next president, though Briggs said he believed it would be no later than June 2009. Until then, Locatelli will carry out his presidential duties as usual. Whether or not he continues to hold a position at the university after his resignation from the presidency will be determined by his successor, though Locatelli expressed a desire to continue his 50-year relationship with Santa Clara.

"Santa Clara is my life, my home," Locatelli said. "I'll remain available to do whatever people wish me to do and help in any way that people see would be in the best interest of the university and community."

Contact Liz O'Brien at (408) 554-4546 or eobrien@scu.edu.