Father Caro steps down

Message from the President

March 28, 2016

Dear Colleagues:

Rev. Robert V. Caro, S.J., who has served as the inaugural vice president for mission and ministry since 2001, has informed me he will step down from his position in summer 2017.

Upon arriving at LMU, I learned very quickly the impact of Bob’s work: From my first encounters with community members in my walks about campus, I was amazed at how nearly everyone I met — students, faculty, staff, and board members — could articulate the three aspects of LMU’s mission and Catholic identity. This is testimony to Bob’s dedicated work.

Bob’s decision to transition from his current position comes in his 40^th year of service at LMU. He has poured his energy, talent, and heart into the university, in the classroom, and for the past 15 years in mission work. In 2001, when the Board of Trustees suggested a position to coordinate and develop programs to articulate and support our Catholic identity, Father Lawton turned to Bob, then a tenured professor in English. Since that time, Bob has steadily grown the campus’ engagement with mission issues while taking on administrative responsibilities and direct reports from Campus Ministry and the Center for Ignatian Spirituality. He has worked closely with Abbie Robinson-Armstrong, vice president for Intercultural Affairs, to develop training programs for faculty search committees in recruiting and hiring for mission and diversity. He oversees Mission Day and coordinates LMU’s participation in the AJCU-sponsored Ignatian Colleagues and other national programs. On campus, Bob inaugurated Companions in Mission for mid-level faculty and staff and, more recently, he launched successful faculty-staff immersion trips to Latin America and promoted collaboration with the University of Central America in San Salvador, another Jesuit institution. This is a partial list of Bob’s contributions; we will have adequate opportunities to celebrate his accomplishments during the coming academic year.

I have appointed a committee, chaired by Rev. José Badenes, S.J., associate professor and chair of modern languages, to conduct a targeted search and share with me, by the end of November 2016, the names of persons who can lead and animate efforts to deepen our commitments to LMU’s Jesuit, Marymount, and Catholic mission.

The other members of the committee are:

·         Mary Beth Ingham, C.S.J., trustee;

·         Robbin Crabtree, dean of BCLA;

·         Abigail Kaun, associate dean of SFTV;

·         Ron Marasco, professor of theatre arts and dance;

·         Cathleen McGrath, associate professor of management and chair of the Faculty Mission and Identity Committee;

·         Rev. Paul Vu, S.J., assistant dean of students and chair of the Student Affairs Mission and Identity Committee.

The committee’s charge is: 1) determine a profile of required and desirable qualities for the next vice president of mission and ministry via consultations with campus constituencies; and 2) identify high-quality candidates who exemplify these qualities. Please join me in thanking these individuals for their generosity in serving this important task. Please join me in thanking these individuals for their generosity in serving this important task.

We have a mission that engages us, separates us from other institutions, and continually calls us to St. Ignatius’ magis. Our committee will help us build on our traditions, imagining anew how we all can more deeply embody our call to encourage learning, to educate the whole person, and to the service of faith and the promotion of justice. Please feel free to contact members of the search committee to share your thoughts and hopes for our next vice president of Mission and Ministry. 

With sincere appreciation and thanks,

Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D.
President