President Harris’ Perspective

University of San Diego and Monarch School Service Project

Christmas is often known as the season of giving, but I don’t think of the holiday season as a time for giving in the material sense. Instead, I see it as a season to give your time by volunteering or to support a local charity to carry out its mission in our community.

One of my favorite memories of Christmas was in 2005. That year, my family and I decided to volunteer our time to provide relief to the frontline volunteers in Mississippi who were there providing support to a community devastated by Hurricane Katrina. We spent the week of Christmas that year delivering food and supplies to families in need. We lived together in a small FEMA trailer and had limited access to the amenities we took for granted back home. On Christmas, after church, we spent time with local families celebrating the holiday and giving thanks for the new friends we had made. Observing the kindness of people toward each other as we worked together to rebuild the community was amazing and to this day, I believe we received more as a family than we ever gave in service.

As I reflect on this season of giving, I am also reminded of one of the most generous people I have had the pleasure of knowing: Mrs. Darlene Marcos Shiley. Mrs. Shiley and her late husband, Donald, have made immeasurable impacts on our Torero community through their many gifts to the University of San Diego over the years.

Recently, Mrs. Shiley announced a record-breaking pledge totaling $75 million, with a primary emphasis on creating the ‘Shiley STEM Initiative,’ to expand innovative STEM programs and fund new, state-of-the-art STEM facilities on USD’s campus. The pledge also includes additional funding for undergraduate STEM research and programs benefiting veterans and military-connected students, as well as support for the students in The Old Globe and USD Shiley Graduate Theatre Program.

This gift will set the university up to be a national leader in STEM education and research and will benefit generations of Toreros in the years ahead. The incredible philanthropy of Donald and Darlene Shiley, along with the generosity of spirit we find within our own USD community, reminds me that there is so much to be grateful for this holiday season as we celebrate the exceptional work of our students, faculty and staff.

In a 2018 address, Pope Francis said, “Let us ask the Lord for the grace of being generous, so that our hearts may be opened and we may become kinder.”

These are inspirational words to live by this holiday season. And, while it may feel like your monetary donation or time spent volunteering is not enough to solve the complex challenges facing our world, know that no amount of thoughtful generosity is ever too small. In fact, it could be the difference between someone having a hot meal that day or not – or a littered beach from staying trash-free.

Pope Francis went on to say in that same address, “Generosity belongs to everyday life; it’s something we should think: ‘How can I be more generous, with the poor, the needy… How can I help more?’”

Let us all find ways to give back and support our families, friends and communities this holiday season.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all of you!