Fr. Kevin O'Brien: Deciphering The State of Santa Clara
Fr. Kevin O’Brien is the president of Santa Clara University and former dean of SCU’s Jesuit School of Theology. He holds a master’s degree in philosophy from Fordham University and a Master of Divinity and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology, now part of Boston College. He has a B.A. in government from Georgetown and a law degree from the University of Florida, where he served as an editor on the Florida Law Review. He served as Vice President for Mission and Ministry at Georgetown for 8 years before coming to Santa Clara in 2016. Furthermore, he has written a book, “The Ignatian Adventure”, which has sold over 40,000 copies and has been translated into three languages.
Darius and Antonio bring on Father O’ Brien to discuss the thought process of SCU administration regarding COVID-19, how their staff has dealt with the implications of their decisions, the necessity to provide first-years with a quality Jesuit education, the difficulty of getting students involved in clubs/organizations via Zoom, how SCU is rectifying racial injustice on campus, and the hopes for winter and spring quarter.
Interview Highlights
0:50 - Could you give us a brief summary about yourself and how you came to be the President of Santa Clara University?
4:45 - How has your staff dealt with the pressure to make the right call for thousands of people’s health?
11:20 - How do you go about ensuring that first year students have a strong experience at SCU even though they are learning virtually?
14:16 - What advice would you give to student leaders who are working towards getting students involved in their respect clubs and organizations through virtual platforms?
16:10 - What are some of the steps that Santa Clara has taken to address the social unrest and racial injustice on campus and in our nation?
25:08 - What is a message you would give to students, parents, and staff to take with them as they undergo this unfortunate fall quarter and possibly academic year?
28:57 - What do you anticipate the winter and spring quarter to look like in regards to COVID-19 and the possibility of bringing students back on campus?
32:20 - What do you miss most about being on campus?
33:54 - VoSC custom question.