Sherrick accepts plaque from staff Javell Sheppard
Interim President Rebecca Sherrick, Ph. D., will be leaving Saint Xavier University later this week as Keith Elder, Ph. D., MPH, MPA, steps into his position as the university’s 21st president on March 1.
To help with Elder’s transition into the presidential role, Sherrick has been sending him documents on different topics regarding the university almost everyday. She will also be available to him whenever he needs.
Sherrick has made a lasting impact on the university community during her eight-month tenure as interim president.
Sherrick “consolidated administrative units, expanded diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and created sustainable solutions to vexing academic problems” according to an email sent out by the Board of Trustees.
Out of these many accomplishments, Sherick emphasized that she was proudest of the ability of the university to come back together in a way that when a mistake is made, it can be acknowledged.
“I think it’s about coming back together and telling each other the truth and loving each other even when we don’t agree,” stated Sherrick.
After she leaves, Sherrick would like to see the university continue learning “how to disagree without being disagreeable.”
Sherrick continued “It’s really important to talk about things, but I think we don’t have to be disagreeable about it. We don’t have to beat each other up. And I think we’ve taken some good steps in that direction.”
Sherrick expressed that her favorite part about being at SXU was the people, and that is what she will miss them most.
Alongside the people, Sherrick noted that she also loved the university’s mission, especially as it was a historic mission. Prior to SXU Sherrick had not worked at a Catholic university.
Sherrick found meaning in the mission statement of standing for those who are uneducated or not well or poor.
Among the university’s core values is the notion of Learning for Life, and the most important thing Sherrick learned during her time at the university was that despite not having much money left over, a university can still do a good job of educating.
There is an idea in higher education that in order to do work well, a university needs a lot of assets according to Sherrick. She feels that the university has “done a really great job of extending itself to students even without the high paid salaries and the fancy facilities.”
“I think we can fulfill our mission just by caring deeply about one another. And I think that’s pretty powerful” she added.
Saint Xavier does not have an endless amount of resources, so Sherrick had to work with what she had though she loved the challenge. It was a way to get people to create different priorities and think in new ways.
It was also a way to get people “to not be afraid to be who they are, to be open minded and open hearted. I think that giving people permission to do that in the last eight months has been pretty powerful. I don’t think people had to be afraid of anything” communicated Sherrick.
Due to her short duration in the seat of the president, Sherrick was unable to accomplish everything that she had hoped to. This included moving the Ludden Speech and Language Clinic to the Driehaus Center, as being located in the basement of the Pacelli Residence Hall causes water to leak into the clinic.
In the fall semester Sherrick indicated that she was not ready to retire yet despite leaving her previous position as President of Aurora University, she wanted a chance to be somewhere else but still be with students and faculty.
The sentiment still rings true this spring, as Sherrick revealed that she is currently interviewing for a presidential position at another university.
Sherrick conveyed that she had a powerful sense of calling, and that one’s calling does not terminate at an age. “You don’t turn 65 and turn the dial. That calling to make a difference continues. I think I’ve really enjoyed discovering that I’m not somebody who’s going to sit on the porch at least for a long time” she added.
Sherrick’s parting message to the university community was to keep the faith, “with an emphasis on faith.”