LAURA THOMAS – Online Editor

EMILY WYNN – Scene Editor

When the graduating seniors were heading into seventh grade, the Rev. John P. Schlegel, S.J., was heading through the doors of Creighton as the university president for the first time.

Schlegel has served as the university president for 10 years, and within those years, Creighton has seen change, growth and overall evolution of the campus and of the college as a whole. Students and visitors alike can see the changes, but it all goes back to him and his past 10 years of service to the university. The Creightonian sat down with Schlegel to discuss his past 10 years and where he is headed in the future.

1. What was your fondest moment?

“My fondest moment was my first graduation. I love all of the graduations, but the first year held a very special significance for me. Also, when the Jesuit superior general came in 2004. He blessed the statue of St. Ignatius in front of the library, which I had commissioned specifically for the event. I had never met a general of the order before so that was very special to me.”

2. What was the achievement you are most proud of since becoming the president?

“I am personally proud of the quality of students and the faculty. I am also very proud of the campus and the master plan we developed to change campus.”

3. Do you have any regrets?

“That I can’t be in the classroom. There’s talk of me doing a [SRP], but I am not sure that will happen. I always saw myself in the classroom and doing research. In fact, I still have a couple books up here [points to head].”

4. When you started did you think you would be here this long?

“No, I had been in administration for a number of years before coming here and I didn’t see myself continuing, but I love Creighton and the students here.”

5. Did you come to Creighton wanting to expand campus?

“No, I am not a terribly strategic thinker. In 2000 Omaha voted and approved the Qwest Center, and from there, it has been a very systematic approach.”

6. Are there other opportunities for you in the future?

“I won’t be leaving Creighton in the near future, but in the not too distant future, there are three main things I would like to do. I want to delve more deeply into my spiritual life. I want to travel; I have a great desire to see South America. I have been to most parts of Asia, I lived in Europe for about seven years, I lived in Australia and I have been to Antarctica, so I want to see the Jesuit footprints in South America. I also want to join the [Jesuit Refugee Service] in Thailand. They have an extremely developed mission there, and the majority of the population is Buddhist. It will be an opportunity to develop inter-faith conversation.”

7. What is your least favorite part of the job?

“That there are not 35 hours in the day. Ha. On a different note, there is a human dimension that is run by budgets, and it’s not just dollars and cents. I care very deeply for the faculty and staff here, and since I’ve been here there have been no mass cuts; that would just pull me apart.”

8. What will be the biggest change in college education?

“There are going to be three significant changes: the evolution of technology. From the first time students pick up their Nintendos, the way they learn is different; they challenge their professors’ knowledge of technology. Second, there is a physical transformation that is also a challenge. More and more, the classroom is located online. With this, we are losing socialization, conversations, critical thinking and solid judgment; things that can only be learned through interaction with one another. And affordability is decreasing, tragically.”

9. What is your favorite spot on campus?

“The Jesuit Gardens. There is no better place to pray especially on a quiet Saturday morning. Other places I love are the third floor deck in Heider where you can overlook the city. I also love room 3023 in Harper; It overlooks the baseball field and you can see all the way up to the administration building.”

10. What has surprised you the most about Creighton?

“The vibrancy of the place. How alive everything is on campus consistently surprises me. The students and the faculty are both so alive in their generosity of spirit and their generosity of service. It’s a very blessed place.”