Francesco Cesareo, Ph.D.
Press Conference Remarks - March 2, 2007
Additional Resources
Coverage from Worcester Telegram & Gazette >>
Part I "Welcome and Dr. Cesareo's Address"
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Part II "Questions and Answers"
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I want to thank all of you for taking time out of your busy schedules to be here this afternoon. I especially wish to thank the members of the city government who are here with us. It is a real pleasure being with you.
Shortly after I received Dr. Bayon’s telephone call informing me that the Board had elected me Assumption’s next President, I called my parents in New York to tell them the news. When I told my mother, there was a moment of silence, then she said, “You don’t expect me to call you President, do you?” I said, “Of course not.” She then said, “I wasn’t going to anyway. Don’t forget, I changed your diapers!”
Standing here today is a long way from the streets of Queens, NY where I grew in a blue-collar ethnic neighborhood. But the lessons that I learned have remained with me my entire life. In some ways, my being here today represents the American story. I am a son of Italian immigrants, whose education did not go beyond the fifth grade. My mother and father immigrated from Italy after World War II. My father was a prisoner of war during World War II. Yet, the importance of education was instilled in me and my brother from the first moment of elementary school. They sacrificed much to provide me and my brother with the best possible education they could provide. Therefore, I always saw education as a privilege not to be taken for granted or wasted. I also learned the importance of hard work and sacrifice as essential in achieving some level of success. And finally, I learned that whatever I accomplished was due to the gifts that God had given me, which were to be put in the service of others. These are values that have characterized my life as an educator and that I hope to instill as President of Assumption College. And just as I had the opportunity for a College education, it will be an important priority for me to make sure that the children of the newly arrived immigrants have the same opportunity here at Assumption so that they can have hope in their future and the possibilities that lie ahead for them.
This is an exciting time for both Assumption and Worcester. The College under President Plough has seen tremendous growth and expansion, both in terms of student enrollment and buildings. The recently completed successful Capital Campaign, which exceeded its $30 million goal by $3 million, is not only a testimony to the value that alumni and benefactors place in Assumption, but also bodes well for the future. I was especially impressed by the support provided by the Worcester area foundations. I look forward to building on the momentum that this campaign generated. Assumption provides students with a quality liberal arts education within the context of the Catholic intellectual tradition, along with professional studies that are concerned not only with transmitting technical skills, but a set of values that focus on contributing to the betterment of society. Building on this strength, my focus will be on enhancing the academic life of the College and exploring with the faculty, who are extremely talented and dedicated, creative and innovative ways to reform the curriculum. Of special importance to me is making sure that the Catholic intellectual tradition is integrated into the academic life of the College and that it permeates the life of the institution.
I’m also excited about the possibilities that exist within the city of Worcester. The city is undergoing a tremendous Renaissance with the new Court House building on Main Street, the rejuvenation of the downtown area with City Square, the new Hilton Hotel, and the plans for the restored Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts. These venues, as well as the established cultural institutions such as the Worcester Art Museum, Mechanics Hall, and Tuckerman Hall, provide Assumption, as well as our sister institutions in the city, with an attractive recruitment piece that will provide students with the amenities of a big city along with the feel and warmth of a New England town. Building collaborative relationships with these institutions and the city itself will not only benefit our students but also the city itself. I look forward to working with the leadership of the city, Mayor Konnie Lukes, City Manager Mike O’Brien, as well as state leadership, especially Lt. Governor Tim Murray, in ways that will be mutually beneficial to Assumption, the city, and the region. The College can and should be a significant resource in partnership with the city contributing toward the development and growth of the city and its institutions.
I also look forward to collaborating with Bishop McManus and the Diocese of Worcester. Catholic colleges and universities should be a resource for the local Church and participates in and contributes to the life and mission of the universal Church. As a Catholic institution we do not see ourselves as separate from the Church, but as part of the Church, members of the community of faith, journeying together and assisting one another in bringing the values of the gospel to the world. This relationship between the Church and the college is important and mutually beneficial as we both seek to improve the world in which we live and of which we are a part. As President it is my sincerest hope that this local Church, will always see Assumption as a resource to assist it in whatever way we can in the carrying out of the Church’s mission.
Equally important I look forward to finding ways to work with the leadership of other faith traditions in Worcester, since ecumenical and interreligious dialogue and collaboration should be part of the life of a Catholic institution as well. Regardless of what our faith tradition may be, we are all striving to protect the dignity of the human person and the improvement of the human condition. Assumption needs to be a leader in this endeavor.
Let me close by saying that I look forward to being a partner with the Assumptionist community who are the religious sponsors of this great College. For over a century the dedication and tireless efforts of this community and its leadership have nurtured and preserved a vision articulated by their founder, Fr. Emmanuel d’Alzon to bring a Christian outlook to education and the world. I see myself as a steward of this heritage, which must continue to animate all that we do at Assumption, so that our motto, “Until Christ be formed in You” is a reality on the life of this campus.
As I prepare to assume this office, I do so with a great sense of responsibility and humility, but also great enthusiasm and excitement. Thank you.
